Ui 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


i>-  1 


7 


fJL- 


MEMOIR 


Rev.  JOHN  RODGERS,  D.D. 


LATE  PASTOR  OF  THE  WALL-STREET  AND  BRICK  CHURCHES, 
IN  THE  CITV  OF  NEW  YORK. 


BY  SAMUEL  MILLER,  D.  D. 

Profoesor  in  Jthe  Thpolc^cel  Scrtiinai'^  a{  Priijcijtoi.' 


ABRIDGED   FROM   THE   Cir-INA'     FDIT'.ON   CF   1813. 


PHILADELPHIA : 
PRESBYTERIAN  BOARD  OF  PUBLICATION. 

JAMES   RUSSELL,   PDBLISHING   AGENT. 

1840. 


Entered  according  to  the  act  of  Congress,  in  tlie  year  1840,  by  A.  W. 
Mitchell,  in  tlie  office  of  the  Cleric  of  the  District  Court  for  tlie 
Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania. 


PHILADELPHIA. 
WILLIAM   S.    MARTIEN,   PRINTER. 


>- 

or 


O 

a 


CONTENTS,  yo^^ 
CHAPTER  I.  : 


yt      FROM  HIS  BIRTH  TO  HIS  LICENSURE  TO  PREACH  THE  GOSPEL. 


Page 
Introductory  remarks,        -  -  -  17 — 19 

His  birth,  parentage,  tfcc.  ...  19 

<    His  early  education,  teachers,  and  promising  charac- 

M         ter, -  20 

m     Hears  Mr.  Whitefield  with  profit — Anecdotes,        20 — 21 
Goes  to  the  Rev.   Mr.  Roan's  Academy — conduct 
there,      ------         22 

^    Goes  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Blair's  Academy — accomit  of 

in         Mr.  Blair,  -  .  -  .  .         23 

^     Studies  with  the  Rev.  President  Davies — account  of 

o         the  latter,  -  -  -  -  -         23' 

"^    Concludes  his  studies  under  the  direction  of  the  Rev. 

Gilbert  Tcnnent — account  of  Mr.  Tennent,         -         25 
Enters  on  trials  for  Licensure — Licensed,         -  27 


CHAPTER  n. 


'J       FROM  HIS  LICENSURE  TILL  HIS  SETTLEMENT   AT  ST.   GEORGE's. 
I( 

" :     Soon  after  his  licensure  travels  into  Virginia  with 
;  ;         Mr.  Davies,         -----  27 
^     Remarkable  circumstance  attending  that  journey,  28 
The  rise  and  progress  of  Presbyterianism  in  Vir- 
ginia,            .             -             .             .             -  30 
John  Organ,  a  pious  school-master.            -             -  31 
Boston's  Fourfold  State,  and  Luther  on  Galatians, 

useful,     ....--  32 

All  the  early  Reformers  Calvinistical,               -  33 

Mr.  Samuel  Morris  hopefully  converted,  and  useful,  34 


/ 


4  CONTENTS. 

Page 
Rev.  William  Robinson  travels  into  Virginia — Anec- 
dotes concerning  him,    -             -             -             -  36 

Mr.  Morris' account  of  the  state  of  Religion,    -  39 

Mr.  Rodgers  arrives  at  Williamsburgh,     -             -  44 

Respectfully  treated  by  the  Governor,                .  45 

Refused  a  license  to  preach  in  the  colony  -             -  46 
Anecdote  of  Sir   W.  Gooch,  and  account  of  Rev. 

James  Blair,        -             -             -             -             -  48 

Mr.  Rodgers  leaves  Virginia,  and  visits  Somerset 

county,  in  Maryland,      -             -             -             -  50 

Lodges  at  Capt.  Venable's — anecdotes  of  Mr.  Win- 
der,        ------  51 

Leaves  Maryland,  and  returns  to  Pennsylvania,  54 

Has  four  calls  put  into  his  hands,  -             -              -  54 

Accepts  that  from  St.  George's              .             .  55 


CHAPTER  III. 

FROM  HIS    SETTLEMENT    IN    ST.   GEORGE's,  TILL    HIS    REMOVAL 
TO  NEW  YORK. 

His  ordination  and  instalment,  at  St.  George's,  -  55 
His  ordination  sermon  preached  by  Dr.  Finley — ac- 
count of  the  latter,  -  -  -  -  56 
Enters  on  his  pastoral  labours,  -  -  57 
His  solemn  dedication  to  God,  -  -  -  57 
His  attention  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Macwhorter — account 

of  the  latter,        -             -             -             -             -  59 

Divisions  in  the  Presbyterian  church,  -             -  61 

Sources  and  occasions  of  these  divisions,   •             -  61 

Old-side  and  New-side,              ...  65 

Divisions  healed  and  parties  happily  united            -  67 

Benefits  resulting  from  the  controversy,            -  68 

Mr.  Rodgers  a  New-side  man,        -             -             -  68 
Account  of  Mr.  Rodgers'  ministry,  at  St.  George's, 

by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Latta,   -             -             -             -  70 

Mr.  Rodgers  marries  Miss  Bayard,       -             -  75 

Takes  a  second  journey  into  Virginia,       -             -  75 

Declines  an  invitation  to  visit  New  York,          -  76 

Mr.  Rodgers  preaches  with  success  in  Maryland,  77 

Mr.  Rodgers  declines  a  mission  to  Europe,      -  78 


CONTENTS.  5 

Pa^c 

Rev.  Charles  Beatty,           -             .            -  -        78 

Life  of  Mr.  Rodgers  remarkably  preserved,      -  79 

Loses  his  wife,  and  marries  a  second  time,  -         80 

His  opinion  respecting- wives  for  clerg-ymen,     -  81 

Chosen  a  Trustee  of  New  Jersey  College,  -  -         82 

His  zeal  and  diligence  as  a  Pastor,        -             -  83 
Preaches  to  an  assembly  which  Mr.  Whitefield  had 

disappointed,              ....  84 

Receives  a  call  from  New  York,    -             -  -         85 

Accepts  the  call,            ....  86 

Removes  his  family  to  New  York,            -  .87 


CHAPTER  IV. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  NEW  YORK. 

First  account  of  Presbyterians  there,          .             -  87 
All  the  Reformers    Presbyterians,  except  the  En- 
glish,     ......  88 

The  Rev.    Messrs.  McKemie    and   Hampton,  visit 

New  York,         .....  90 

Their  extraordinary  treatment  there,    .             .  91 

Account  of  Mr.  McKemie,              .             -             -  92 

Lord  Cornbury's  meanness  and  bigotry,            .  94 
Account  of  Mr.  McKemie's  trial,  .             -             .94 

Presbyterians  in  New  York  organize  a  church,  94 

Call,  and  obtain  the  Rev.  James  Anderson,             -  95 

Build  a  house  for  public  worship,          .             -  96 

Dr.  Nicoll's  great  zeal  and  exertions,         -             -  96 

Charter  of  incorporation  refused,           .             -  97 

Second  unsuccessful  attempt  to  obtain  a  charter,   -  97 

Division  in  the  church,               ...  98 
A  party  call  the  Rev.  Mr.  (afterwards  President,) 

Edwards,      .....  98 

Account  of  President  Edwards,      -             -             -  99 

Division  healed,  and  churcli  again  united,         -  99 

Mr.  Anderson  leaves  New  York,   ...  100 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Pemberton  called,            -             -  100 

Charter  again  refused,        ....  100 

Church  and  ground  conveyed  to  the  General  Assem- 
bly of  the  church  of  Scotland,     -             -             -  101 


g  CONTENTS. 

Page 

Dr.  Nicolls'  death — trustees  chosen,      -             -  102 

Revival  of  religion  in  the  congregation,     -             -  102 

Mr.  Whitefield  visits  New  York,           -             -  103 

His  preaching  beneficial  to  the  church  there,         -  103 

House  of  worship  enlarged,  ...  103 
Rev.  Mr.  Curaming  called   as  a   colleague  to  Mr. 

Pemberton — his  character,    ...  104 

Divisions  take  place  in  the  congregation,  -             -  105 

Mr.  Pemberton  and  Mr.  Gumming  both  dismissed,  109 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Bellamy  called,         -             -             -  111 

He  declines  accepting  the  call. — His  character.  111 
Mr.  Rodgers  declines  an  invitation  to  pay  a  visit  to 

the  city,        .....  112 

The  Rev.  David  McGregor  rejects  a  call,  -             -  113 

Mr.  McGregor's  character,       -             -             -  113 

The  Rev.  David  Bostwick  called  to  New  York.     -  114 

Character  of  Mr.  Bostwick,       -             -             -  114 

He  accepts  the  call,  and  settles  in  New  York,  -  115 
A  portion  of  the  congregation  secede,  and  call  Dr. 

Mason,   -  -  .  -  -  .116 

The  character  of  Dr.  Mason,     -                          -  116 

Another-  unsuccessful  attempt  to  obtain  a  charter,  118 

Capt.  Owen's  legacy — anecdotes  respecting  it,  119 

Capt.  Neilson's  legacy — circumstances  attending  it,  121 

The  congregation  purchase  a  Parsonage,          -  122 

The  Rev.  Joseph  Treat  called  to  New  York,          -  123 

Mr.  Bostwick's  death,  ...             -  123 

Dr.  Rodgers  called  to  New  York,  ...  123 

Accepts  the  call,           ....  123 


CHAPTER  V. 

FROM    HIS    REMOVAL    TO    THE   CITY   OF    NEW    YORK,  TILL  THE 
COMMENCEMENT  OF  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR. 

Mr.  Rodgers  arrives  in  New  York,  and  is  installed,  124 

Sets  up  a  weekly  lecture,  ....  125 

His  ministry  attended  with  a  blessing,  .  126 

Takes  measures  to  secure  Capt.  Owen's  legacy,    -  127 
Abolishes  some  exceptionable  customs  in  tlie  church 

in  New  York, 128 


CONTENTS.  7 

Page 

It  becomes  necessary  to  erect  a  new  church,  -  128 

The  Brick  Church  opened,             ...  129 

A  fourth  luisuccessful  effort  to  obtain  a  charter,  130 

Amidst  all  difficulties  the  church  flourishes,           -  131 

Controversy  respecting-  an  American  Episcopate,  131 

Mr.  Rodgers  engaged  in  that  controversy,              -  132 

The  objects  of  the  Anti-episcopal  convention,  133 

Mr.  Rodgers  associated  with  Rev.  Dr.  Laidlie,  &c.  136 

Character  of  Dr.  Laidlie,  -  -  .  136 
Mr.  Rodgers  receives  a  Doctor's  degree,    -             .137 

Depreciation  of  academic  honours,        -             .  138 

Dr.  Witherspoon  arrives  in  America,         .             .  140 

Dr.  Rodgers  particularly  friendly  to  him,          -  140 

They  visit  Boston  together,            ...  140 

Character  of  Dr.  Witherspoon,              -             .  141 

Dr.  Rodgers  goes  on  a  mission  to  Vermont,           -  142 

Success  of  his  preaching,  and  adventures  there,  143 

One  more  unsuccessful  effort  to  obtain  a  charter,  145 

Dr.  Rodgers  an  early  and  decided  whig,           .  146 

Removes  his  family  from  New  York,  -  -  148 
Interview  with  General  Washington,  -  -  "  148 
Removes  his  family  to  Greenfield,              .             .149 

His  father's  death,        ....  149 

His  European  correspondence,       ...  150 

Anecdote  respecting  it,             ...  150 


CHAPTER  VI. 


THE    PERIOD    OF    HIS     EXILE    FROM    NEW    YORK,   DURING  THE 
REVOLUTIONARY  WAR. 

He  is  appointed  a  chaplain  in  the  army,    -  -  151 

Takes  a  journey  into  the  state  of  Georgia,        -  152 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Zubly's  character,    -  -  -  152 

Dr.  Rodgers  returns  to  his  family  at  Greenfield,  153 

Appointed  chaplain  to  the  convention  at  Esopus,    -  153 

Removes  from  Esopus,  ...  154 

His  moveable  property  remarkably  preserved,        .  154 

He  removes  to  Sharon,  in  Connecticut,  -  155 

Letter  concerning  his  residence  at  Sharon,  and  after- 

wards  at  Amenia,     ....  155 


8  CONTENTS. 

Page 

He  removes  to  Danbury,    -             -             -             -  157 

His  zeal  and  diligence  there,    ...  158 

He  removes  to  Lamington,             ...  160 

Letter  concerning  his  ministry  there,   -             -  161 

Treaty  of  peace  signed,      ....  163 

Dr.  Rodgers  attempts  to  supply  the  soldiers  of  the 

American  army  witli  Bibles,      -             -            -  ]63 
General  Washington's  letter  to  him  on  that  subject,  164 
The  destruction  of  the  Presbyterian  houses  of  wor- 
ship, &c.  in  New  York,  during  the  war,       .  166 
Dr.  Rodgers  returns  to  New  York,            -             .  167 
Retrospect  of  his  conduct  and  character  during  the 
war,        ......  167 

The  testimony  of  Gouverneur  Morris,  Esq.  in  his 

favour,   ......  168 


CHAPTER  VII. 


FROM   THE    REVOLUTIONARY    WAR,   TILL    HIS    LAST   ILLNESS. 

The  ruinous  condition  of  the  churches  in  New  York, 

at  the  close  of  the  war,         -  .  .  172 

Dr.  Rodgers  preaches  in  St.  George's,  and  St.  Paul's 

churches,  in  New  York,        ...  172 
Preaches  a  Thanksgiving  Sermon,  which  was  pub. 

lished, 172 

Brick  Church  first  repaired,  and  opened,    -  -  173 

Wall-street  Church  repaired,  and  opened,  .  175 

Church  in  New  York  incorporated  under  a  general 

act  of  the  legislature,  -  -  -  175 

First  trustees,         .....  175 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Wilson  settled  as  a  colleague  with  Dr. 

Rodgers,  -  -  -  -  -  176 

Dr.  Rodgers  chosen  vice-chancellor  of  the  univer- 
sity,       .  -  -  -  -  .177 
Revisal  of  the  standards  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 

commenced,        .....  177 

The  various  steps  taken  in  this  business,  -  177 

Rev.  Dr.  Hobert  Smith,      .  .  -  -  177 

"    "     Robert  Cooper,  ...  177 


CONTENTS.  9 

Pa?e 
Rev.  Dr.  James  Latta,        ....  177 
"     "     George  Dufficld,         .             -             .  178 
«     "     Patrick  Allison,  .             -             -             .178 
"     "    James  Sproat,             -            -             -  179 
"     »     John  Evving,       .             .             .             -  179 
"     "     Matthew  Wilson,        -             .             -  182 
Rev.  Mr.  John  Miller,         -             -             -             -  183 
Dr.  Rodgers  moderator  of  the  first  General  Assem- 
bly,           183 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Wilson  leaves  New  York,           .  183 

Controversy  respecting  Dr.  Muir  and  Dr.  Morse,  -  184 
The  Kev.    Dr.   McKnight  accepts  a  call  to  New 

York,     .            -             -             -_           -             -  185 
The  church  in  New  York  establishes  a  charity, 

school,    ......  186 

The  Rev.  S.  Miller  accepts  a  call  to  New  York,  187 

Ordained  and  installed  there,          ...  187 
Dr.  Rodgers  preaches  at  the  funeral  of  Dr.  Wither, 

spoon,      ......  187 

Presbyterian  church  erected  in  Rutgers-street,  188 

Opened  for  public  worship  by  Dr.  Rodgers,              -  188 

Dr.  Rodgers  relinquishes  his  Thursday  lecture,  189 

Dr.  Milledoler  called  to  the  Rutgers-street  church,  189 

Church  in  Cedar-street  erected  and  opened,      -  190 

Separation  of  the  united  churches,              -             -  191 

Wall-street  church  rebuilt,        -             .             .  192 

Church  in  Spring-street  erected,     ...  192 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Spring  called  to  New  York,        .  193 

His  instalment  as  pastor  of  the  Brick  Church,         .  193 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


HIS    LAST    ILLNESS    AND    DEATH. 

Dr  Rodgers  begins  to  preach  but  once  on  the  Sab. 

bath,              .....  195 

Both  his  bodily  and  mental  powers  decline,            .  195 

Begins  to  use  notes  in  the  pulpit,          .             .  195 

Delivers  his  last  sermon,    ....  195 

Engages  in  his  last  public  service,        -            -  196 


10  CONTENTS. 

Page 
Failure  of  his  memory  on  every  subject  excepting 

that  of  religion,               -             -            -            -  197 

His  last  social  prayer,               ...  199 

His  death,               .             .            .             .            -  200 

His  funeral,      .....  200 


CHAPTER  IX. 


HIS   GENERAL    CHARACTER. 

Dr.  Rush's  letter  on  his  general  character,             .  202 

Rev.  Dr.  Livingston's             do.             -             .  207 

Rev.  Mr.  Forrest's                  do.      -             -             .  210 

Dr.  Rodger's  ardent  and  uniform  piety,             -  211 

His  prudence,         .....  216 

His  uniform  and  indefatigable  labours,              -  219 

The  character  of  his  preaching,     ...  221 

His  great  disinterestedness  of  character,           -  224 

The  spotless  purity  of  his  moral  character,             .  226 
His  punctual  attendance  on  the  Judicatories  of  the 

church,  -  -  -  .  .227 

His  liberality  of  sentiment,       -             .             .  228 

His  conduct  with  respect  to  worldly  property,      -  230 

He  was  no  politician,    -             -             -            .  232 

His  humanity  and  benevolence,      ...  235 

The  peculiar  dignity  of  his  manners,    .            .  235 

His  attention  to  dress,        ....  237 

List  of  his  publications,             ...  238 

Lessons  taught  by  his  history,       -            .            .  240 


TO  THE  MINISTERS 

OF    THE 

PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH, 

IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

REVEREND    FATHERS 

AND    BRETHREN, 

The  character  and  ministry  of  the  vene- 
rable man  with  whose  memoirs  you  are  here 
presented,  were  dear  to  you  all.  Most  of 
you  knew  him  personally;  and  all  of  you 
revered  him  as  one  of  the  Fathers  of  the 
American  Church.  Knowing  this,  I  had  no 
doubt  that  you  would  be  gratified  with  seeing 
some  account  of  his  long,  laborious,  and  use- 
ful life;  and  knowing  also,  that  no  one  could 
so  naturally  be  expected  to  give  this  account 


12  PREFACE. 

as  his  surviving  colleague,  who  served  with 
him  as  a  son  in  the  gospel,  for  more  than 
seventeen  years,  I  did  not  hesitate  to  make 
the  attempt. 

In  the  progress  of  the  undertaking,  I  have 
greatly  exceeded  the  limits  originally  pre- 
scribed to  myself  What  was  at  first  in- 
tended to  be  a  pamphlet  of  moderate  size, 
has  insensibly  grown  into  a  volume.  Whe- 
ther any  apology  ought  to  be  made  for  such 
an  extension  of  the  work,  can  be  ascertained 
only  by  the  perusal. 

Such  as  it  is,  allow  me  to  inscribe  it,  most 
respectfully,  to  you.  As  I  wrote  under  the 
habitual  impression,  that  it  would  be  my  own 
fault  if  I  did  not  profit  by  the  contemplation 
of  the  character  exhibited  in  the  following 
pages;  so  I  will  also  frankly  confess,  that  I 


PREFACE.  13 

was  not  a  little  encouraged  and  animated  by 
the  hope,  that  the  work,  with  all  its  imper- 
fections, might  not  be  entirely  useless,  among 
others,  to  my  fathers  and  brethren  in  the 
ministry.  One  thing  is  certain,  that  if  the 
portrait  here  drawn  be  even  tolerably  just,  it 
cannot  be  viewed  wholly  without  benefit  by 
those  who  have  a  taste  for  studying  and  co- 
pying excellence. 

I  shall  not  be  surprised  if  it  should  be 
imagined  by  some,  that  I  have  discovered, 
in  the  ensuing  sketch,  more  of  the  partiality 
of  friendship,  than  of  the  sternness  of  histori- 
cal justice.  I  can  only  say,  that  it  has  been 
my  sacred  aim  to  exhibit  every  feature  that 
was  attempted  to  be  portrayed,  true  to  the 
original.  If  I  have  in  any  case  failed,  the 
error  was  certainly  unintentional.  But  it 
is  a  consolation  to  know,  that,  even   after 


24  PREFACE. 

making  the  most  liberal  allowance  on  this 
score  that  can  be  required,  there  will  still 
remain  a  large  and  solid  mass  of  personal 
and  professional  worth,  which  we  can  scarce- 
ly too  often,  or  too  respectfully,  contemplate. 
We  may  say  concerning  the  character  in 
question,  what  I  have  somewhere  met  with, 
as  said  concerning  another — "Take  away 
nine  parts  out  of  ten,  even  of  its  virtues,  and 
there  will  be  still  enough  left  to  admire,  to 
imitate,  and  to  love." 

For  the  introduction  of  so  many  minute 
details  respecting  the  church  in  New  York, 
I  hope  to  be  forgiven.  Though  they  cannot 
fail  of  being  comparatively  uninteresting  to 
many  readers;  yet  by  another,  and  perhaps 
equally  large  class,  they  will  be  considered 
as  among  the  most  valuable  parts  of  the 
volume.     There  are  not  a  few,  indeed,  who 


PREFACE.  25 

feel  so  great  an  interest  in  the  affairs  of  that 
church,  that  they  would  be  glad  to  possess 
a  history  still  more  minute  of  its  rise  and 
progress.  I  have  been  studious  of  the  grati- 
fication of  such  persons,  so  far  as  my  plan 
permitted.  Nor  can  I  forbear  to  add,  that 
the  sentiments  of  attachment  and  gratitude 
which  I  have  long  cherished,  for  that  por- 
tion of  the  flock  of  Christ,  with  which  my 
deceased  colleague  laboured  for  nearly  half 
a  century,  and  which  I  have  had  the  happi- 
ness of  serving  for  more  than  nineteen  years, 
led  me  to  take  peculiar  pleasure  in  noticing 
and  recording  every  thing  important  con- 
cerning it,  which  came  to  my  knowledge. 

That  we  may  all  have  grace  given  us  to 
imitate  our  departed  fellow-labourer,  so  far 
as  he  served  our  common  Master ;  and  that 
the  following  account  of  his  life  may  be 


J^g  PREFACE. 

made,  in  some  degree,  to  promote  that  great 
cause,  in  the  advancement  of  which  he  lived 
and  died,  and  to  which  we,  as  ministers, 
have  solemnly  professed  to  devote  ourselves, 
is  the  fervent  prayer  of, 

Reverend  Fathers  and  Brethren, 
Your  fellow  servant  in  the  Gospel 
of  Jesus  Christ. 

SAMUEL  MILLER. 

New  York,  Feb.  25,  1813. 


MEMOIR. 


CHAPTER  I. 

From  his  Birth,  to  his  Licensure  to  preach  the  Gospel. 

A  MODERN  writer,  who,  to  no  ordinary  talents, 
unites  great  eccentricity  and  great  errors,  recom- 
mends the  erection  and  preservation  of  some  me- 
morial of  every  one  that  dies.  The  sentiment 
embraced  in  this  plan  is  as  false,  as  the  plan  itself 
is  chimerical.  The  celebrated  English  moralist, 
Dr.  Johnson,  is  undonbledly  correct,  when  he  ob- 
serves, that  there  are  "many  characters  which 
ought  never  to  be  drawn."  "There  have  been 
men,"  he  adds,  "  splendidly  wicked,  whose  en- 
dowments threw  a  brightness  on  their  crimes,  and 
wliom  scarcely  any  villany  made  perfectly  detesta- 
ble, because  they  never  could  be  wholly  divested 
of  their  excellencies ;  but  such  have  been,  in  all 
ages,  the  great  corrupters  of  the  world,  and  their 
resemblance  ought  no  more  to  be  preserved,  than 
the  art  of  murdering  without  pain.''*  ^Vith  re- 
spect to  many  who  are  born  and  die  in  our  world, 

*  Rambler,  No.  4. 
2 


]  g  BEFORE   HIS    ORDINATION. 

the  sooner  they  are  forgotten  the  better.  As  they 
were  cumberers  of  the  ground  while  they  lived  ; 
so  their  memorial  would  no  less  encumber  the 
page  of  history,  or  the  tablet  of  tradition.  It  is  a 
real  blessing  that,  according  to  the  divine  declara- 
tion, the  name  of  the  wicked  shall  rot. 

But  there  is  another  mistake,  much  more  preva- 
lent than  that  which  has  been  noticed.  It  is  the 
mistake  of  those  who  run  into  the  opposite  ex- 
treme. They  suppose  that  no  life  ought  to  be 
recorded  and  transmitted  to  posterity,  unless  it  be 
that  of  one  who  has  immortalized  himself,  either 
by  his  writings,  or  by  a  course  of  distinguished 
action  on  the  theatre  of  the  great  world.  Such  a 
principle,  if  admitted,  would  undoubtedly  exclude 
from  the  shelves  of  Biography,  some  of  the  most 
useful  characters  that  ever  adorned  human  society. 
It  is,  therefore,  a  false  principle.  And  while  it  is 
freely  granted  that  the  public  ought  not  to  be  trou- 
bled with  the  life  of  every  good,  or  of  every  use- 
ful man;  it  maybe  confidently  maintained,  that 
whenever  a  case  occurs  in  which  a  life  has  been 
marked  with  respectable  talents,  eminent  piety, 
exemplary  diligence,  and  extensive  usefulness, 
such  a  life,  if  survivors  are  disposed  to  profit  by 
the  contemplation  of  it,  ought  not  to  be  withheld 
from  them. 

On  this  principle  the  author  of  the  following- 
memoir  presumes  to  lay  it  before  the  public.  The 
venerable  subject  of  it  was  never,  indeed,  con- 
sidered, either  by  himself  or  by  others,  as  be- 
longing to  the  class  of  those  extraordinary  men, 
who,  by  the  splendour  of  their  genius,  the  variety 
and  extent  of  their  learning,  or  the  number  of  their 
publications,  excite  the  admiring  gaze  of  mankind. 
But   if  solid  and  respectable  talents  ;  if  acquire- 


BEFORE    HIS   ORDINATION.  19 

menls,  which  enabled  him  to  act  his  part,  in  various 
important  stations,  with  uniform  honour ;  if  patriar- 
clial  dignity;  if  sound  practical  wisdom,  and  a  long 
life  of  eminent  and  extensive  usefulness,  be  worthy 
of  grateful  remembrance,  and  of  respectful  imitation, 
then  the  life  of  Dr.  Rodgers  is  worthy  of  being  writ- 
ten and  perused.  There  is  a  day  coming,  and  the  es- 
timate of  Christians  ought  now  to  anticipate  it,  when 
such  a  character  will  appear  infinitely  more  worthy 
of  contemplation  and  regard  than  that  of  the  most 
splendid  improver  of  human  science,  or  the  most 
admired  leader  of  victorious  legions,  that  was  ever 
immortalized  by  the  historian's  pen.  In  that  day 
it  will  be  found,  tiiat  bearing  the  image  of  Christ, 
and  a  gracious  relation  to  his  person,  is  the  highest 
nobility;  and  that  services  done  for  the  Saviour's 
cause,  will  obtain  the  only  lasting  reward. 

With  these  reflections  in- view,  the  attention  of 
the  reader  is  requested  to  the  following  Memoir. 

John  Rodgkrs  was  born  in  the  town  of  Boston, 
in  Massachusetts,  on  the  fifth  day  of  August,  A.  D. 
1727.  He  was  the  son  of  Mr.  Thomas  Rodgers, 
and  Elizabet'i  Baxter,  his  wife,  who  removed  from 
the  city  of  Londonderry,  in  Ireland,  to  Boston,  in  the 
year  1721.  There  they  resided  until  1728  ;  in  the 
autumn  of  which  year,  v.'hen  the  subject  of  this 
memoir  was  a  little  more  than  a  year  old,  they 
left  Boston,  and  transferred  their  residence  to  the 
city  of  Philadelphia.  They  had  two  sons  and  six 
daughters.  James,  the  elder  son,  died  early.  John, 
the  younger,  was  the  comfort  and  the  pride  of  his 
parents  while  they  lived,  and  survived,  fur  a  num- 
ber of  years,  all  the  rest  of  the  family. 

His  parents,  early  discovering  in  their  younger 
son  more  than  usual  sobriety,  reflection,  and  taste 
for  knowledge,  bestowed  much  pains  on  his  educa- 


20  BEFORE   HIS   ORDINATION. 

tion.  His  pious  mother,  in  particular,  was  un- 
wearied in  iier  endeavours  to  form  liis  tender  mind, 
and  to  imbue  it  with  the  principles  of  piety.  At 
the  age  of  about  twelve  years  he  became  the  sub- 
ject of  serious  impressions,  and  evinced  much 
thoughtfulness  and  concern  respecting  his  eternal 
interest.  At  this  time  he  had  frequent  opportuni- 
ties of  attending  on  the  ministry  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Whitefield,  tliat  "  prince  of  preachers,"  whose 
gifts  were,  perhaps,  more  wonderful,  and  whose 
labours  were  probably  more  eminently  blessed,  to 
the  conversion  of  souls,  than  those  of  any  other 
individual,  since  the  days  of  the  Apostles.  The 
preaching  of  this  herald  of  the  cross  was  blessed 
to  young  Rodgers  in  a  very  remarkable  manner. 
That  lie  attended  upon  it  with  great  interest,  and 
with  deep  impressions,  even  at  that  early  age,  will 
abundantly  appear  from  the  following  anecdote, 
which  he  often  related  to  his  particular  friends 
with  much  tenderness  and  pleasure. 

It  is  generally  known  that  Mr.  AVhitefield  often 
preached  in  the  open  air;  sometimes  because  houses 
of  worship  were  sliut  against  him,  and  at  others 
because  his  audiences  were  too  large  to  be  accom- 
modated in  any  ordinary  building.  In  Philadel- 
phia, he  often  stood  on  the  outside  steps  of  the 
court-house,  in  Market,  at  the  corner  of  Second 
street,  and  from  that  station  addressed  admiring 
thousands  who  crowded  the  street  below.  On  one 
of  these  occasions,  young  Rodgers  was  not  only 
present,  but  pressed  as  near  to  the  person  of  liis 
favourite  preacher  as  possible ;  and  to  testify  his 
respect,  held  a  lantern  for  his  accommodation. 
Soon  after  the  sermon  began,  he  became  so  ab- 
sorbed in  the  subject,  and,  at  length,  so  deeply  im- 
pressed, and  strongly  agitated,  that  he  was  scarcely 


BEFORE   HIS  ORDINATION.  21 

able  to  stand ;  the  lantern  fell  from  his  hand,  and 
was  dashed  in  pieces;  and  that  [)art  of  tlie  audience 
in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  speaker's  station, 
were  not  a  little  interested,  and  for  a  few  moments 
discomposed  by  the  occurrence.* 

The  impressions  thus  begun,  were  confirmed 
and  deepened,  and  resulted,  in  a  short  time  after- 
wards, as  he  hoped,  when  he  was  but  little  more 
than  twelve  years  of  age,  in  a  saving  knowledge 
and  acceptance  of  Jesus  Christ,  as  the  only  refuge 
and  hope  of  his  soul,  and  in  a  cordial  devotedness 
to  his  service. 

From  this  period  he  resolved,  if  God  should  en- 
able him,  to  devote  himself  to  the  service  of  Christ, 
in  the  work  of  the  Gospel  ministry.  With  this 
view  he  immediately  began  the  study  of  the  learned 
languages,  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Stevenson, 

*  A  subsequent  circumstance,  connecteJ  with  this  event, 
and  not  less  remarkable,  is  worthy  of  being  recorded. 
Mr.  Whitefield,  in  the  course  of  his  iiflh  visit  to  America, 
about  the  year  1754,  on  a  journey  from  the  southward, 
called  at  St.  George's,  in  Delaware,  where  Mr.  Rodgers 
was  then  settled  in  the  Gospel  ministry,  and  spent  some 
time  with  him.  In  the  course  of  this  visit,  Mr.  Rodgers, 
being  one  day  riding  witli  his  visitant  in  the  close  carriage 
in  which  the  latter  usually  travelled,  asked  him  whether 
he  recollected  the  occurrence  of  the  little  boy,  who  was 
so  much  affected  with  his  preaching,  as  to  let  his  lantern 
fall  ?  Mr.  Whitefield  answered,  "  O  yes  I  I  remember  it 
well ;  and  have  often  thought  I  would  give  almost  any 
thing  in  my  power  to  know  who  that  little  boy  was,  and 
what  had  become  of  him."  Mr.  Rodgers  replied,  with  a 
smile,  "  I  am  that  little  boy  I"  Mr.  Whitefield,  with  tears 
of  joy,  started  from  his  seat,  took  him  in  his  arms,  and 
with  strong  emotion  remarked,  that  he  was  the  fourteenth 
person  then  in  the  ministry  whom  lie  had  discovered  in 
the  course  of  that  visit  to  America,  of  whose  hopeful  con- 
version he  had  been  the  instrument. 


22  BEFORE   HIS   ORDINATION. 

an  instructor  of  reputation  from  Ireland,  who,  a 
short  time  before,  had  set  up  a  grammar  school  ia 
Philadelphia.  With  him  he  remained  a  few  months, 
much  to  his  own  profit,  and  to  the  satisfaction  of 
his  preceptor.  About  the  year  1741,  he  was  re- 
moved to  a  grammar  school,  shortly  before  erected 
on  the  Neshaminy,  a  few  miles  from  Philadelphia, 
by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Roan,  an  eminent  clergyman  of 
the  Presbyterian  church.  In  this  school  he  con- 
tinued several  years.  Here  he  distinguished  him- 
self by  his  diligence,  his  love  of  order,  and  his 
exemplary  deportment,  and  not  less  by  the  deci- 
sion and  ardour  with  which  he  manifested  his  love 
of  religion.  At  the  age  of  fourteen,  he  regularly 
maintained  family  worship  in  the  house  in  which 
he  boarded ;  and  at  the  same  tender  age,  his  re- 
ligious deportment  and  conversation  were  such, 
that  even  pious  adults  did  not  disdain  to  attend  to 
them  as  sources  of  pleasure  and  profit.  An  ex- 
cellent woman,  a  number  of  years  since  deceased, 
who  spent  the  early  part  of  her  life  in  Mr.  Roan's 
congregation,  used  to  mention  that  she  often  con- 
trived, on  the  Sabbath,  when  she  went  to  church, 
to  walk  a  few  feet  behind  young  Rodgers,  "on 
purpose  to  hear  his  pious  and  sensible  conversation 
with  his  classmates."* 

In  the  summer  of  the  year  174.3,  when  this  ex- 
cellent youth  was  sixteen  years  of  age,  he  was  re- 
moved from  Mr.  Roan's  school,  with  a  view  to  his 
pursuing  the  higher  branches  of  study  at  some 
other  seminary;  and  there  being,  at  that  time,  no 
college  nearer  than  at  New  Haven,  in  Connecticut, 
on  the  one  hand,  or  Williamsburg,  in  Virginia,  on 

*  Communicated  in  a  letter  from  Dr.  Rush,  for  which 
sec  a  subsequent  part  of  this  volume. 


BEFORE   HIS   ORDINATION.  23 

tlie  Oilier,  he  was  sent  to  an  academy  of  high  reputa- 
tion at  Fog's  Manor,  in  Chester  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Samuel  Blair, 
wlio  was  one  of  the  most  respectable  scholars  and 
divines  of  his  day.*  Here  he  completed  his  aca- 
demical studies,  including  the  moral  and  physical 
sciences,  as  well  as  the  languages,  and  made  con- 
siderable progress  in  the  study  of  theology. 

At  Mr.  Blair's  academy,  Mr.  Rodgers  was  so 
happy  as  to  find  a  number  of  young  gentlemen,  of 
excellent  talents,  and  of  eminent  piety,  preparing 
for  the  Gospel  ministry,  in  whose  friendship  he 
found  much  comfort,  and  whose  society  contributed 
not  a  little  to  his  improvement.  Among  these  was 
Mr.  Samuel  Davies,  afterwards  so  highly  distin- 
guished for  his  pulpit  talents,  and  who  died  Presi- 
dent of  the  College  of  New  Jersey .t     Among  this 

*  The  Rev.  Samuel  Blair  was  a  native  of  Ireland.  He 
came  to  America  very  early  in  life,  and  was  one  of  the 
students  of  the  Rev.  William  Tennent,  at  his  celebrated 
Log  College,  on  the  Ncshaminy.  He  was  considered  not 
only  as  one  of  the  most  learned  and  able,  but  also  as  one 
of  the  most  pious  and  excellent  men  that  ever  adorned  the 
American  Church.     He  died  in  1751. 

t  The  Rev.  Samuel  Davies  was  born  in  the  county  of 
New  Castle,  in  the  State  of  Delaware,  November  3,  1721. 
He  received  the  greater  part  of  his  academic  and  theolo- 
•gical  education  under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Blair,  of 
Fog's  Manor,  and  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by 
the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle,  in  1745.  Soon  after  this 
event  he  travelled  into  Virginia,  where  he  settled,  and  re- 
mained highly  respected  and  useful  for  a  number  of  years. 
In  1753  he  was  chosen  by  the  Synod  of  New  York,  at 
the  solicitation  of  the  Trustees  of  New  Jersey  College,  to 
accompany  the  Rev.  Gilbert  Tennent  on  a  mission  to 
Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  to  solicit  benefactions  for  that 
College.  In  1759,  he  was  elected  to  succeed  Mr.  Edwards 
in  the  Presidency  of  the  same  Institution.  In  this  station 
he  remained  but  eighteen  months,  being  removed  by  death 


24  BEFORE    HIS   ORDINATION. 

number,  also,  was  Mr.  Alexander  Curaming,  who 
became,  early  in  life,  one  of  the  ministers  of  the 
church  in  New  York,  and  who  held  a  high  place 
among  the  ministers  of  his  day.  To  these  may 
be  added  Messrs.  Robert  Smith,  James  Finley, 
Hugh  Henry,  and  a  number  of  others,  who  after- 
wards became  distinguished  clergymen.  With  sev- 
eral of  these  gentlemen,  and  especially  with  Mr. 
Davies,  he  formed  an  intimacy  of  the  most  close 
and  endearing  kind,  which  he  often  mentioned  in 
terms  which  evinced  that  he  considered  it  as  one 
of  the  most  happy  circumstances  of  his  life,  and 
that  he  remembered  it  with  the  deepest  interest. 

It  is  an  old  observation,  that  men  assist  in  form- 
ing each  other.  Hence  considerable  men  are  apt 
to  arise  in  clusters.  Mr.  Rodgers  was  so  happy 
as  to  receive  his  education  at  a  period  when  some 
of  the  most  eminent  divines  that  ever  adorned  the 
American  Church,  were  entrusted  with  the  direc- 
tion of  her  affairs,  and  with  the  formation  of  her 
ministry.  It  was  not  difficult  to  perceive,  from 
the  whole  of  his  ministerial  character  and  deport- 
ment, that  he  had  enjoyed  the  advantage  of  early 
and  intimate  intercourse  with  those  venerable,  and 
excellent  men;  and  that  he  had  profiled  much  by 
the  advantage,  if  there  was  a  formality  in  their 
character  at  which  modern  flippancy  is  disposed 
to  smile;  tliere  was,  also,  a  solid  worth,  an  apos- 
tolic dignity,  a  primitive  piety,  and  a  fervent  zeal, 
which  would  to  God  were  more  frequently  to  be 
found,  at  the  present  day,  in  the  Church  of  Christ! 

in  January,  17G1,  in  tlic  tliirty-sevcntli  3'car  of  his  a^e. 
The  pfcniiiR,  taste,  learning-,  and  eminent  piety  of  Presi- 
dent Davies  are  so  well  known,  that  it  is  unnecessary  to 
dwell  on  tlieni  lierc. 


BEFORE    HIS    ORDINATION.  25 

Tliough  it  appears,  from  the  preceding  state- 
.ment,  that  the  subject  of  this  memoir  did  not 
receive  what  is  commonly  styled  a  College  educa- 
tion, he  certainly  received  an  education  incompa- 
rably better  than  what  usually  passes  under  that 
title.  The  classical  literature,  especially,  which 
was  possessed  by  the  Tennenls,  the  Allisons,  and 
the  Blairs,  at  that  period,  was  much  more  deep 
and  accurate  than  is  commonly  acquired  at  the 
present  day,  by  most  American  scholars.  They 
received  it  from  the  best  European  sources;  and 
their  first  pupils,  like  themselves,  were  generally 
well  instructed,  and  bore  no  mean  resemblance  to 
the  literary  stature  of  their  masters.  That  young 
Rodgers  had  able  instructors,  at  this  period,  and 
improved  his  time,  is  apparent,  from  the  Latin  dis- 
course, found  among  his  papers,  which  he  deliver- 
ed, as  a  part  of  his  early  trials  before  the  Presby- 
tery; and  also  from  the  numerous  and  apt  quota- 
lions  from  the  ancient  classics,  which  his  memory 
enabled  him  to  make,  on  proper  occasions,  to  the 
end  of  life.  From  the  discourse  just  mentioned,  it 
appears,  that,  to  the  Latin  and  Greek  languages, 
he  had  added  some  knowledge  of  the  Hebrew, 
when  he  left  the  academy. 

Many  persons  are  apt  to  suppose,  that  the  race 
of  divines  who  flourished  in  our  country  seventy 
or  eighty  years  ago,  though  pious  and  excellent 
men,  had  a  very  scanty  supply  of  books,  and  in 
many  cases,  a  still  more  scanty  education,  com- 
pared with  the  divines  of  later  years,  and  especial- 
ly of  the  present  day.  This  opinion  is  not  only 
erroneous,  but  grossly  so.  Those  venerable  fathers 
of  the  American  Church  were  more  deeply  learn- 
ed than  most  of  their  sons.  They  read  more,  and 
thought  more,  than  we  are  ready  to  imagine.    The 


26  BEFORE   HIS   ORDINATION. 

greater  part  of  the  books  of  ancient  learning,  and 
ponderous  erudition,  which  are  now  to  be  found 
on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic,  were  imported,  and 
studied  by  those  great  and  good  men.  Original 
works  are  actually  in  fewer  hands,  in  our  day, 
compared  with  the  number  of  readers,  than  in 
theirs.  They  read  solidly  and  deeply:  we  hurry 
over  cnmpends  and  indexes.  They  studied  sys- 
tematically, as  well  as  extensively;  our  reading  is 
more  desultory,  as  well  as  more  superficial.  We 
have  more  of  the  belles  lettres  polish  ;  but  as  bibli- 
cal critics,  and  as  profound  theologians,  we  must 
undoubtedly  yield  to  them  the  palm  of  excellence. 
Mr.  Rodgers,  having  pursued  his  theological 
studies  for  some  time  with  Mr.  Blair,  returned  to 
his  father's,  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  and 
finished  them  under  the  direction  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Gilbert  Tennent,  who  had  llien  become  the  pastor 
of  the  second  Presbyterian  Church,  in  that  city.* 

*  The  Rev.  Gilbert  Tennent  was  born  in  Ireland,  Feb- 
ruary 5th,  1703.  He  was  the  eldest  son  of  the  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Tennent,  who  had  received  Episcopal  ordination  in 
that  country,  and  emigrated  to  America  in  the  year  1718. 
Soon  after  his  arrival  he  renounced  Episcopacy,  and  was 
admitted  a  member  of  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia. 
He  was  one  of  the  most  eminently  pious,  useful,  and 
learned  ministers,  especially  in  classical  literature,  that 
the  American  (Church  ever  had.  He  educated  his  four 
sons  Gilbert,  William,  John,  and  Charles,  (togctlier  with 
a  number  of  other  young  men,)  at  his  Log-College,  on  the 
Neshaminy;  and  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  them  all 
useful  ministers.  This  venerable  man  died  at  Neshaminy, 
May  6th,  1746,  in  the  seventy -third  year  of  his  age.  His 
son,  Gilbert,  in  the  year  1743,  established  a  new  Presby- 
terian Church  in  Philadelphia,  chictly  composed  of  those 
who  were  denominated  the  converts  and  Ibllowers  of  Mr. 
Whitcficid.  He  was  a  bold,  ardent,  practical,  and  un- 
usually impressive  preacher.  He  died  in  1704,  in  the 
sixty-second  year  of  his  age. 


BEFORE   HIS   ORDINA.TION.  27 

In  the  monlh  of  June,  in  the  year  1747,  he  ap- 
peared before  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle,  and 
entered  on  the  usual  trials  for  licensure  to  preach 
the  gospel.  Having  passed  these  with  more  than 
usual  approbation,  he  was  licensed,  on  tlie  14th 
day  of  October,  in  the  same  year;  and  soon  gave, 
in  his  public  ministrations,  as  well  as  in  his  pri- 
vate deportment,  those  presages  of  future  excel- 
lence and  usefulness,  which  were  afterwards  so 
happily  realized. 


CHAPTER  n. 

From  his  Licensure,  till  his  settlement  in  St.  George's. 

Immediately  after  his  licensure,  Mr.  Rodgers,  by 
the  appointment  of  his  Presbytery,  began  to  sup- 
ply the  numerous  vacant  churches  under  their 
care;  and  spent  the  following  winter  among  those 
more  immediately  in  the  vicinity  of  his  usual  resi- 
dence. In  the  spring  of  the  year  1748,  Mr. 
Davies,  (afterwards  President  Davies,)  received  a 
call  from  the  people  of  Hanover,  Henrico,  and 
three  other  neighbouring  congregations,  in  Vir- 
ginia, to  setde  among  them  as  their  pastor.  This 
call,  in  the  month  of  April,  of  that  year,  he  accept- 
ed ;  and  immediately  set  out  to  the  scene  of  his 
intended  pastoral  labours.  Mr.  Davies,  however, 
made  it  one  condition  of  his  accepting  this  call, 
that  his  young  friend,  Mr.  Rodgers,  (to  whom  he 
was  particularly  attached,*  and  whose  popular  ta- 

*  The  attachment  between  President  Davies  and  Dr. 
Rodgers  was  unusually  ardent  and  uniform.  The  former 
named  one  of  his  sons  John  Rodgers,  after  his  friend. 


28  BEFORE   HIS   ORDINATION. 

lents  he  had  no  doubt  would  be  eminently  useful 
in  that  country,)  should  accompany  him  into  Vir- 
ginia, and  assist  him  in  his  evangelical  labours 
there  for  a  few  months.  Mr.  Rodgers  consented 
to  go.  The  Presbytery  made  the  appointment 
accordingly  :  and  the  two  friends,  without  loss  of 
time,  prosecuted  their  journey  together,  and  reach- 
ed Virginia  toward  the  latter  end  of  April. 

This  journey  was  attended  with  an  occurrence 
too  remarkable  to  be  omitted.  Mr.  Rodgers,  from 
his  earliest  years,  had  been  unusually  fearful  of 
lightning  and  thunder.  So  great,  indeed,  was  his 
agitation  and  suffering  during  thunder  storms,  that 
the  approach  or  prospect  of  one  made  him  un- 
happy. He  had  taken  much  pains  to  get  the  bet- 
ter of  this  weakness  ;  but,  to  use  his  own  language, 
"  neither  reason,  philosophy,  nor  religion  availed 
any  thing;"  and  it  was  the  more  distressing,  be- 
cause both  he  and  his  friends  feared  it  might  seri- 
ously interfere  with  his  ministerial  usefulness. 
But  in  the  course  of  the  journey  under  considera- 
tion, he  was  entirely  delivered  from  this  infirmity, 
and  by  means  the  most  unlikely  that  could  be 
imagined  to  produce  such  a  happy  effect. 

While  he  and  IMr.  Davies,  after  they  had  enter- 
ed Virginia,  were  riding  together  one  afternoon, 
they  were  overtaken  by  one  of  the  most  tremendous 
thunder  storms  ever  known  in  that  part  of  the 
country.  They  were  in  the  midst  of  an  extensive 
forest,  and  several  miles  distant  from  any  house 

The  latter,  on  his  part,  was  not  less  affectionate  and  con- 
stant in  liis  tcistimonit's  of  regard.  He  received  Mr.  Da- 
vies'  niotlicr,  after  tlic  premature  and  lamented  death  of 
Jier  son,  into  his  family,  where  she  was  treated  with  filial 
kindness  and  respect,  for  a  considerable  time,  and  where 
she  died. 


BEFORE   HIS   ORDINATION.  29 

which  offered  even  tolerable  shelter,  either  to 
them  or  their  horses.  The  storm  came  up  with 
great  rapidity  ;  the  lightning  and  thunder  were 
violent  beyond  all  description ;  and  the  whole 
scene  such  as  might  be  supposed  to  appal  the 
stoutest  heart.  Their  horses,  terrified  and  trem- 
bling, refused  to  proceed.  They  were  obliged  to 
alight;  and  standing  by  their  beasts,  expected 
every  moment  to  be  precipitated  into  eternity  by 
the  resistless  element.  Providentially,  however, 
they  escaped  unhurt:  and  the  consequence  was 
as  wonderful,  as  the  preservation  was  happy. 
From  that  hour  Mr.  Kodgers  was  entirely  deliver- 
ed from  the  infirmity  which  had  long  given  him  so 
much  distress!  On  whatever  principle  we  may  at- 
tempt to  account  for  the  fact;  whether  we  sup- 
pose that  he  was  so  completely  saturated  with  fear 
on  the  occasion,  as  to  be,  ever  afterwards,  unsus- 
ceptible of  its  influence  from  the  same  source  ;  in 
other  words,  that  he  was  literally  "  frightened  out 
of  his  fear;"  or  whether  we  suppose  that  so  sig- 
nal an  experience  of  Divine  protection,  was  made 
the  means  of  inspiring  him,  thence  forward,  with 
a  larger  share  of  pious  confidence,  when  a  similar 
danger  arose : — whether  we  resolve  the  fact  into 
one  or  the  other  of  these  principles,  still  the  fact 
itself  is  unquestionable,  that  during  the  whole  of 
his  after  life,  he  displayed  an  unusual  degree  of 
composure  and  self-possession  amidst  the  severest 
thunder  storms. 

The  rise  and  progress  of  the  body  of  Presby- 
terians in  Virginia,  to  whom  the  labours  of  Mr. 
Davies  and  Mr.  Rodgers  were  now  directed,  de- 
serve some  notice  before  we  proceed.  They  de- 
serve this  notice  not  only  as  being  remarkably 
interesting  in  themselves,  but  also  as  throwing  light 


30  BEFORE   HIS   ORDINATION. 

on  the  treatment  received  by  the  subject  of  this 
memoir,  in  the  course  of  the  southern  mission  of 
which  we  are  speaking. 

'J'he  first  settlers  in  Virginia  were  generally  con- 
nected with  the  Episcopal  Church.  Episcopacy- 
was  early  established  in  the  Dominion,  by  law,  and 
remained  so  until  the  revolution  which  terminated 
in  American  Independence.*  A  very  small  num- 
ber of  Presbyterians  from  Scodand,  and  a  still 
smaller  number  of  dissenters  from  South  Britain, 
were  thinly  scattered  through  the  colony ;  but 
they  were  so  few  and  so  destitute  of  religious  zeal, 
that  no  ecclesiastical  organization  different  from 
that  of  the  establishment  seems  to  have  been  thought 
of,  (excepting  on  a  small   scale,  on  the  Eastern 

*  In  1618,  a  law  was  passed  in  Virginia,  which  enacted 
that  "  every  person  should  go  to  church  on  Sundays  and 
holydays,  or  he  neck  and  heels  that  night,  and  be  a  slave 
to  the  Colony  the  following  week."  For  the  second  of- 
fence, he  was  to  be  a  slave  for  a  month  ;  and  for  the  third, 
a  year  and  a  day. — Slith's  Hist.,  p.  148.  In  1643,  a  law 
passed,  which  enacted  that  "  no  minister  shall  be  permitted 
to  officiate  in  the  country  but  such  as  shall  produce  to  the 
Governor  a  testimonial  that  he  hath  received  his  ordina- 
tion from  some  Bishop  in  England  ;  and  shall  then  sub- 
scribe to  be  conformable  to  the  orders  and  constitutions  of 
the  Church  of  England  :  and  if  any  other  person,  pretend- 
ing himself  to  be  a  minister,  shall,  contrary  to  this  act, 
presume  to  teach  or  preach,  publicly  or  privately,  the  Gov- 
ernor and  Council  are  hereby  desired  and  empowered  to 
suspend  and  silence  the  person  so  offending  ;  and  upon  his 
obstinate  persistence,  to  compel  him  to  depart  the  country 
with  the  first  convenience." — Lairs  of  Virginia,  edit.  1769, 
p.  3.  Several  of  these  laws  were  atlcrwards  repealed,  or 
their  penalties  mitigated;  but  they  remained  severe  until 
the  revolution.  We  arc  accustomed  to  smile  at  what  arc 
called  the  blue-laws  of  Connecticut,  but  it  would  be  diffi- 
cult to  find  any  thing  in  them  equal  to  the  first  act  above- 
mentioned. 


BEFORE    HIS   ORDINATION.  31 

Shore,  as  will  hereafter  appear,)  until  between  the 
years  1730  and  1743.  Durinjj  that  period,  a  few 
Presbyterian  churches  were  formed  under  cir- 
cumstances too  remarkable  and  interesting  to  pass 
unnoticed. 

About  the  year  1730,  there  resided  in  the  great 
Northern  Neck,  between  the  Rappahannock  and 
Potomac  rivers,  a  certain  John  Organ,  a  pious 
schoolmaster,  from  Scotland.  Soon  after  his  es- 
tablishment in  that  country,  finding  that  there  was 
no  place  of  public  worship  in  his  immediate  neigh- 
bourhood, and  that  a  large  portion  of  the  people 
wholly  disregarded  the  ordinances  of  religion,  and 
were  sunk  in  carelessness  and  profligacy,  his  spirit 
was  stirred  within  him  to  attempt  something  for 
the  spiritual  advantage  of  his  neighbours.  Ac- 
cordingly, he  collected,  in  private  houses,  such  of 
them  as  were  tolerably  decent  and  sober,  and  had 
any  sense  of  religion,  and  read  to  them  the  Scrip- 
tures, and  other  pious  writings,  accompanied  with 
prayer  and  singing.  These  exercises  were  much 
blessed  to  tlie  awakening  and  conversion  of  a  num- 
ber of  souls.  For  several  years  nothing  more  was 
attempted  ;  especially  as  the  frowns  of  government 
were  soon  directed  towards  this  little  flock,  and 
the  laws  against  dissenters  rigorously  enforced 
against  them.  In  a  short  time,  however,  after  the 
formation  of  the  Synod  of  Philadelphia,  the  peo- 
ple of  Organ's  neighbourhood  made  an  application 
to  that  body  for  supplies.  This  request  was  grant- 
ed ;  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Anderson,  who  had  before 
resided  in  New  York,  but  was  then  settled  in  Penn- 
sylvania, was  sent  by  the  Synod  to  preach  among 
them,  to  organize  a  church,  and  to  intercede  with 
the  government  on  their  behalf.  Mr.  Anderson 
succeeded  in  attaining  all  these  objects.  He  preach- 


32  BEFORK    HIS   ORDINATION. 

ed  to  great  acceptance,  and  with  much  impression  ; 
and  formed  a  church,  which,  by  his  labours,  and 
those  of  other  ministers,  was  considerably  enlarged 
and  edified. 

While  these  things  were  going  on  in  one  neigh- 
bourhood, events  of  a  similar  kind,  but  still  more 
extraordinary,  were  taking  place  in  another. 

In  Hanover,  and  the  adjacent  counties,  the  as- 
pect of  religion  and  morals  had  long  been  extreme- 
ly low  and  discouraging.  The  established  clergy 
were  many  of  them  notoriously  profligate  in  their 
lives,  and  very  few  among  them  preached,  or  ap- 
peared to  understand,  the  gospel  of  Christ.  It 
was  under  these  circumstances  that  some  pious 
books,  or  fragments  of  books,  which  fell  into  the 
hands  of  a  few  individuals,  were  made  the  means 
of  awakening  them  to  a  concern  for  their  eternal 
interest,  and  of  commencing  a  work  of  grace 
which  was  afterwards  most  powerfully  and  happi- 
ly extended. 

Boston's  Fourfold  Slate  was  one  of  these  books. 
A  few  leaves  of  this  inestimable  work,  which  had 
belonged  to  a  pious  Scotch  woman,  fell  into  the 
hands  of  a  wealthy  planter.  Being  pleased  and 
surprised  at  what  he  read,  and  finding  the  title 
page  among  the  leaves,  he  sent  a  commission, 
with  his  next  cargo  of  tobacco,  to  procure  for  him 
a  copy  of  the  book.  He  obtained  it;  and  the 
more  he  read  the  more  he  found  himself  interested 
in  its  contents;  until  he  was  brought,  as  there 
was  every  reason  to  believe,  to  a  saving  acquain- 
tance with  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus.  Another 
wealtliy  planter,  Mr.  Samuel  Morris,  of  Hanover, 
having  providentially  fallen  in  with  an  old  copy  of 
Luther  on  the  Galatians,  perused  it  witii  eagerness 
and  astonishment.    He  there  found  representations 


BEFORE  HIS  ORDINATION.  33 

of  gospel  Irulh,  siicli  as  he  had  never  met  with 
before,  and  widely  different  from  what  he  had 
been   accustomed    to    receive    from    the    pulpit.* 

*  It  will  be  considered,  by  many,  not  a  little  remark- 
able, that  those  who  loved  and  admired  Boston's  Fourfold 
State,  (a  strongly  Culvinistic  work,)  should  equally  relish 
Luther  on  the  Galatians;  and  should  consider  themselves 
as  finding-  the  same  precious  system  of  truth  in  both.  An 
impression  seems  to  have  been  received  by  multitudes, 
that  Luther  and  Calvin  differed  materially  on  important 
points,  particularly  on  t!:e  subject  of  the  divine  decrees, 
or  the  doctrine  of  sovereign  election.  Nothing  can  be 
more  erroneous  than  this  impression.  Excepting  in  the 
single  article  of  Christ's  presence  in  the  Eucharist,  tliere 
was  the  most  entire  harmony  of  opinion  between  these 
tvs^o  great  Reformers.  Those  who  wish  to  see  what  Lu- 
ther believed  on  tlie  doctrines  of  predestin?tion  and 
grace,  would  do  well  to  consult  his  book  De  Servo  Arbi- 
trio,  in  which  they  will  find  as  high-toned  Calvinism  as 
ever  was  penned.  Lidecd,  all  tirs  eminent  Reformers, 
both  in  Great  Britain  and  on  the  continent  of  Europe, 
were  agreed  on  these  points.  The  leading  men  among 
them  were  all  doctrinal  t^alvinists.  It  is  notorious,  that, 
for  a  number  of  years,  during  the  reigns  of  Queen  Eliza- 
beth, and  James  I.  Calvin's  Institutes  was  the  great 
standard  book  put  by  authority  into  the  hands  of  the  stu- 
dents of  divinity  in  the  British  Universities,  and  consider- 
ed as  the  foundation  of  their  studies.  This  is  acknow- 
ledged by  Hcylin  and  others,  in  terms  of  the  bitterest  re- 
gret. Nay,  by  a  convocation  held  at  Oxford,  that  book 
was  recommended  to  tlie  general  study  of  the  nation. 
Let  those  who  den^'  the  Calvinism  of  tlie  early  Reformers 
and  standards  of  the  Church  of  England,  impartially  con- 
suit  Cranmer,  Ridley,  Latimer,  the  Lambeth  Articles, 
(drawn  up  and  signed  by  Archbishop  VVhitgift,  and  de- 
clared by  him  to  be  true,  and  corresponding  with  the 
doctrines  professed  m  the  Church  of  England,)  the  wri- 
tings of  Hall,  D.ivcnant,  and  Horsely,  and  they  will  per- 
ceive and  be  ashamed  of  their  mistake.  But  to  return ; 
it  is  certain  that  Luther  was  not  only  a  strong  doctrinal 
3 


;j4  BEFORE  HIS  ORDINATION. 

Deeply  affected  with  tlie  view  of  human  nature, 
and  of  the  way  of  salvation,  which  this  work  ex- 
hibits, he  never  ceased  to  read,  to  inquire,  and  to 
pray,  until  he  found  consolation  in  Christ,  as  the 
Lord  his  righteousness  and  strength.  Nor  was 
this  all.  It  is  one  of  the  glorious  distinctions  of 
the  genuine  Gospel  of  the  grace  of  God,  that 
wherever  its  power  is  felt  in  the  heart,  and  in  pro- 
portion to  the  degree  in  which  that  power  is  felt, 
there  will  always  be  manifested  a  tender  love  to 
the  souls  of  men,  and  an  ardent  zeal  for  spreading 
the  knowledge  of  Jesus  Christ:  not  the  warmth 
of  mere  party  zeal ;  not  the  strange  fire  of  bigotry 
and  contention  for  modes  and  forms  ;  but  an  affec- 
tionate desire  that  men  may  be  saved,  and  that 
Christ  in  all  things  may  be  ghirified.  Such  was 
the  spirit  excited  in  this  remarkal)le  convert.  He 
no  sooner  had  obtained  a  comfortable  hope  for 
himself  than  he  was  filled  wiih  concern  for  the 
spiritual  welfare  of  his  neighbours.  He  invited 
them  to  come  to  his  house,  and  to  hear  him  read 
passages  from  the  book  which  had  been  so  much 
blessed  to  his  own  soul.  They  attended,  particu- 
larly on  the  Sabbath,  for  this  purpose.  At  first, 
and  indeed  for  a  considerable  time  afterwards,  no 
other  exercise  than  that  of  reading  was  attempted. 
Extemporary  prayer  was  a  tiling  so  unknown 
among  them,  that  none  durst  attempt  it.  Their 
whole   time,    when    together,    was   employed   in 

Calvinist,  but  also  a  Presbyterian  ;  that  is  to  say,  he  early 
and  uniformly  niaiiitained  the  parity  of  ministers  by  di- 
vine riglit,  and  the  Scriptural  autliority  of  Prcsbylers  to 
ordain.  He  himself,  tliougii  only  a  Presbyter,  freely  or- 
dained, at  an  early  period  of  his  Protestant  miiiislry,  and 
he  did  the  same  only  a  few  days  betbrc  his  death. 


BEFORE  HIS  ORDINATION.  35 

reading;  and  Mr.  Morris,  being  an  excellent  rea- 
der, was  enabled,  to  a  very  unusual  degree,  to  keep 
up  liieir  allention;  and  the  Spirit  of  God  visibly 
attended  the  exercise  ;  a  number  of  persons  were 
seriously  impressed,  and  some  hopefully  converted. 
In  1743,  a  young  Scotch  gentleman,  having  receiv- 
ed from  his  friends  at  home  a  volume  of  White- 
field's  Sermons,  published  a  short  time  before,  put 
thcni  into  the  hands  of  Mr.  Morris,  who  perused 
them  himself  with  much  profit,  and  soon  began  to 
read  them  to  his  as.sembled  neighbours.  The 
plainness  and  fervour  of  these  discourses  were 
blessed  to  the  awakening  and  hopeful  conversion 
of  several  persons.  The  curiosity  of  some,  and 
the  serious  impressions  of  others,  increasing,  the 
people  began  to  meet  on  week-days  for  this  ex- 
ercise, as  well  as  on  the  Sabbath.  In  a  short 
time  Mr.  Morris'  house  became  too  small  to  ac- 
commodate those  who  attended;  on  which  he  and 
his  neighbours  determined  to  erect  a  building  ex- 
pressly for  their  accommodation  at  tliese  religious 
meetings.  This  building  was  commonly  called 
"  Morris'  reading  house,"  and  was  generally 
crowded  with  hearers.  The  knowledge  of  these 
circumstances  spreading,  Mr.  Morris  was  invited 
to  attend,  at  several  distant  places,  for  the  purpose 
of  reading  vhe  books,  and  especially  Whitefield's 
sermons,  which  had  been  so  acceptable  and  useful 
in  his  immediate  neighbourhood.  He  complied 
with  these  invitations;  and  thus  the  religious 
awakening  and  anxiety  became  considerably  ex- 
tended. 

About  this  time,  Mr.  Morris  and  his  friends  at- 
tracted the  notice  of  government.  Their  absent- 
ing themselves  from  tiieir  parish  churches,  con- 
trary, as  was  alleged,  to  the  lav/s  of  the  land,  was 


36  BEFORE  HIS  ORDINATION. 

considered  and  treated  as  an  offence.*  They 
were  called  upon  by  the  court  to  assign  their  rea- 
son for  this  absence,  and  to  declare  to  what  de- 
nomination they  belonged.  The  latter  question 
embarrassed  them  not  a  little.  Having  known 
scarcely  any  other  denomination  of  dissenters  be- 
sides Quakers  ;  and  not  being  aware  that  any  body 
of  people  then  on  earth  embraced  the  same  opi- 
nions on  the  subject  of  religion  with  themselves, 
they  were  at  a  loss  what  name  to  assume.  In  this 
embarrassment  they  begged  of  the  court  a  little 
time  to  retire,  and  determine  by  what  name  they 
chose  to  be  known.  After  a  short  consultation, 
recollecting  that  Lutlier  was  a  noted  reformer,  and 
that  some  of  his  works  had  been  of  peculiar  ser- 
vice among  them,  ihey  resolved  to  take  their  de- 
nomination from  him;  they  accordingly  returned 
into  court,  and  declared  themselves  Lutherans. 
By  this  answer  the  members  of  the  court  were 
embarrassed  in  their  turn,  not  finding  any  law  or 
precedent  which  directed  them  how  to  proceed 
against  Lutherans  ;  and,  after  a  little  consideration, 
dismissed  Mr.  Morris  and  his  friends  without  pur- 
suing their  design  further  at  that  time. 

Things  were  in  this  situation,  when,  in  the  year 
1743,  the  Rev.  William  Robinson,  a  member  of 
the   Presbytery   of  New  Brunswick,t   who   had 

*  Mr.  Morris  and  a  number  of  his  friends  were  repeat- 
edly fined  by  the  court  for  absenting  thcmseh'es  from  the 
established  worship.  He  himself,  being  considered  as  a 
kind  of  leader,  was  treated  more  severely  than  the  rest. 
He  paid  near  twenty  fines. 

t  Mr.  Robinson  was  the  son  of  a  wealthy  Quaker  in 
England.  Being  permitted  to  pay  a  visit  of  a  few  weeks 
to  an  aunt  in  the  city  of  London,  from  whom  he  had  con- 
siderable expectations,  he  greatly  ovcrstaid  the  time 
which  had  been  allowed  him ;  and  becoming  deeply  in- 


BEFORE   HIS  ORDINATION.  37 

been  ordained  sine  titulo,  with  a  view  to  his  being 
sent  as  an  Evangelist  to  preach  the  gospel  on  the 

volved  in  the  dissipations  of  the  town,  he  incurred  large 
debts,  wliich  he  knew  liis  father  would  never  pay,  and 
which  iiis  aunt  refused  to  discharge.  In  this  situation, 
fearing  to  return  home,  and  unable  to  remain  longer  in 
London,  he  determined  to  quit  his  native  country,  and 
seek  his  fortune  in  America.  In  this  determination  his 
aunt  reluctantly  acquiesced,  and  furnislied  him  with  a 
small  sum  of  money  for  the  purpose.  Soon  after  his  arri- 
val in  America.,  he  had  recourse,  for  subsistence,  to  teach- 
ing a  school,  in  New  Jersey,  within  the  bounds  of  the 
Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick.  He  had  been,  for  some 
time,  engaged  in  this  business,  without  any  practical 
sense  of  religion,  when  it  pleased  God  to  bring  him  to  a 
knowledge  of  himseli",  and  of  the  way  of  salvation,  in  a 
remarkable  manner.  He  was  riding  at  a  late  hour,  one 
evening,  when  the  moon  and  stars  shone  witli  unusual 
brightness,  and  when  every  thing  around  him  was  calcu 
lated  to  excite  reflection.  While  he  was  meditating  on 
the  beauty  and  grandeur  of  the  scene  which  the  firmament 
presented,  and  was  saying  to  himself,  "  How  transcend- 
antly  glorious  must  be  the  Author  of  all  tliis  beauty  and 
grandeur  1"  the  thought  struck  him  with  the  suddenness 
and  the  force  of  lightning,  "  But  what  do  I  know  of  this 
God  ?  Have  I  ever  sought  his  favour,  or  made  him  my 
friend?"  This  happy  impression,  which  proved,  by  its 
permanency  and  its  etfects,  to  have  come  from  the  best  of 
all  sources,  never  left  him  until  he  took  refuge  in  Christ 
as  the  hope  and  life  of  his  soul.  He  soon  resolved  to  de- 
vote himself  to  the  work  of  the  gospel  ministry ;  com- 
pleted his  academical  education,  and  studied  theology, 
while  he  went  on  with  his  school;  and  was,  in  due  time, 
licensed  and  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Bruns- 
wick, as  above  stated.  Mr.  Robinson  was  remarkable  for 
the  native  vigour  of  his  mind,  and  still  more  for  the  fer- 
vour of  his  piety.  Wherever  he  went,  it  pleased  God  to 
grant  him  some  precious  fruits  of  his  ministry.  Few 
names  in  the  American  Church  rank  higher  than  his  on 
the  scale  of  usefulness.  He  died  at  St.  George's,  in  Dela- 
ware, in  the  month  of  April,  1746. 


•3   '"'  i"*  iT*  ''^j  ^ 


38  BEFORE   HIS   ORDINATION. 

frontier  settlements,  in  the  course  of  his  mission, 
entered  Virginia,  and  preached  with  considerable 
success  in  some  of  the  more  remote  counties  of 
the  colony.  While  he  was  thus  employed,  some 
young  people  from  the  neighbourhood  of  Mr. 
Morris,  and  the  children  of  his  friends,  being  on  a 
visit  to  that  part  of  the  country,  heard  him  preach, 
and  recognizing  in  his  sermons  the  same  doctrines 
which  they  had  been  accustomed  to  hear  at  the 
reading-house,  they  communicated  the  intelligence 
to  their  parents  in  Hanover,  who  immediately  dis- 
patched two  men  to  Cub  Creek,  where  he  had 
been  heard  by  their  children,  in  search  of  Mr. 
Robinson.  He  had  left  the  place,  however,  be- 
fore the  arrival  of  the  messengers,  and  they  were 
obliged  to  follow  him  a  hundred  miles  on  his  jour- 
ney. They  at  length  found  him,  and  prevailed  on 
him  to  appoint  a  time  for  visiting  Hanover. 

At  the  appointed  time  Mr.  Rol)inson  came.  He 
had  been  obliged  to  ride  the  whole  of  the  preced- 
ing night,  in  order  to  avoid  disappointing  the  peo- 
ple. When  he  arrived  at  the  reading-house,  ihey 
were  assembled  in  crowds,  waiting  for  the  preacher. 
On  his  appearance,  a  scene  ensued  which  marked 
at  once  the  conscientiousness  and  simplicity  of  the 
parties  on  both  sides.  Mr  Morris,  and  his  friends, 
though  they  had  heard  a  high  character  of  Mr. 
Robinson  from  their  children,  and  others,  thought 
proper  to  be  more  certain  as  to  his  testimonials  and 
his  creed,  before  they  suflered  him  to  address  the 
congregation  which  had  assembled.  They  there- 
fore took  him  aside,  while  the  people  waited,  and 
not  only  requested  to  see  his  teslimonials,  which 
were  ample,  but  also  proceeded  to  examine  him  as 
to  his  views  of  the  leading  doctrines  of  the  gos- 
pel.     To  this  Mr.  Robinson  submitted,  not  only 


BEFORE   HIS   ORDINATION.  39 

with  meekness,  but  with  afTeclion;  and  having  en- 
tirely satisfied  his  examiners,  he  went  into  the 
house  and  began  to  address  the  people.  Mr.  Mor- 
ris himself,  in  a  letter  to  President  Davies,  thus 
describes  the  scene  which  ensued: 

"On  the  6ih  of  July,  1743,  Mr.  Robinson 
preached  his  first  sermon  to  us  from  Luke  xiii.  3, 
and  continued  with  us,  preaching  four  days  suc- 
cessively. The  congregation  was  large  the  first 
day,  and  vastly  increased  the  three  following.  It 
is  hard  for  the  liveliest  imagination  to  form  an 
image  of  the  condition  of  the  assembly  on  tliese 
glorious  days  of  the  Son  of  man.  Such  of  us  as 
had  been  hungering  for  tlie  word  before,  were  lost 
in  an  agreeable  surprise  and  astonishment,  and 
some  could  not  refrain  from  publicly  declaring  their 
transport.  We  were  overwhelmed  with  the  thoughts 
of  the  unexpected  goodness  of  God  in  allowing  us 
to  hear  the  gospel  preached  in  a  manner  that  sur- 
passed our  hopes.  JVlauy  that  came  through  cu- 
riosity, were  pricked  to  the  heart ;  and  but  few  in 
the  numerous  assemblies  on  these  four  days  ap- 
peared unaffected.  They  returned  alarmed  with 
apprehensions  of  their  dangerous  condition,  con- 
vinced of  their  former  entire  ignorance  of  religion, 
and  anxiously  inquiring  what  they  should  do  to  be 
saved.  And  there  is  reason  to  believe  there  was 
as  much  good  done  by  these  four  sermons  as  by  all 
the  sermons  preached  in  these  parts  before  or 
since."* 

These  pious  people,  after  formally  taking  the 
name  to  themselves  in  the  presence  of  the  court, 

*  See  Mr.  Davies'  letter  to  Mr.  Bellamy,  of  Beth'eni,  in 
New  Enyjland,  dated  June  28,  17.')1,  and  preserved  in  Gil- 
lies' Historical  Collections,  vol.  ii,  p.  330. 


40  BEFORE   HIS   ORDINATION. 

Steadily  called  themselves  Lutherans.  When  Mr. 
Robinson  visited  them,  they  inquired  of  iiim  to 
what  denomination  he  belonged.  On  his  inform- 
inor  them  that  he  was  a  Presbyterian,  and  laying 
before  them  the  import  and  reasons  of  this  denomi- 
nation, they  agreed  to  adopt  it.  They  accordingly 
took  the  earliest  opportunity  of  connecting  them- 
selves with  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle,  which 
was  the  nearest  body  of  that  kind  to  the  place  of 
their  residence,  and  ever  afterwards  called  them- 
selves Presbyterians. 

What  took  place  subsequently  to  the  short  visit 
of  Mr.  Robinson,  at  Hanover,  will  appear  from 
the  following  continued  account  by  Mr.  Morris,  in 
the  same  letter  from  which  the  former  quotation 
was  made:  "  Before  Mr.  Robinson  left  us,  he  suc- 
cessfully endeavoured  to  correct  some  of  our  mis- 
takes, and  to  bring  us  to  carry  on  the  worship  of 
God  more  regularly  at  our  meetings.  After  this 
we  met  to  read  good  sermons,  and  began  and  con- 
cluded with  prayer  and  singing  of  psalms,  which, 
till  then,  we  had  omitted.  The  blessing  of  God 
remarkably  attended  these  more  private  means; 
and  it  was  really  astonishing  to  observe  the  solemn 
impressions  begun,  or  continued  in  many,  by  hear- 
ing good  discourses  read.  1  had  repeated  invita- 
tions to  come  to  many  places  round,  some  of  them 
thirty  or  forty  rniles  distant,  to  read.  Considera- 
ble numbers  attended  witli  eager  attention  and  aw- 
ful solemnity  ;  and  several  were,  in  a  judgment  of 
charity,  turned  to  God,  and  thereupon  erected 
meeting-houses,  and  chose  readers  among  them- 
selves, by  which  the  work  was  more  extensively 
carried  on.  Soon  aflcr  Mr.  Robinson  lefi  us,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  John  Blair  paid  us  a  visit;  and  truly  he 
came  to  us  in  the  fulness  of  the  gospel  of  Christ. 


BEFORE    HIS   ORDINATION.  4J^ 

Former  impressions  were  ripened,  and  new  ones 
made  on  many  hearts.  One  night  in  particular,  a 
whole  house-full  of  people  was  quite  overcome 
with  the  power  of  the  word,  particularly  of  one 
pungent  sentence,  and  they  could  hardly  sit  or 
stand,  or  keep  their  passions  under  any  proper  re- 
straint. So  general  was  the  concern,  during  his 
stay  with  us,  and  so  ignorant  were  we  of  the  dan- 
ger of  apostasy,  that  we  pleased  ourselves  with 
the  thoughts  of  more  being  brought  to  Christ  at 
that  lime,  than  now  appear  to  have  been,  though 
there  is  still  the  greatest  reason  to  hope  that  seve- 
rals  bound  themselves  to  the  Lord  in  an  everlast- 
ing covenant,  never  to  be  forgotten. 

"  Some  time  after  this,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Roan  was 
sent  us,  by  the  presbytery  of  Newcastle.  He 
continued  with  us  longer  than  any  of  the  (ormer, 
and  the  happy  effects  of  his  ministrations  are  still 
apparent,  lie  was  instrumental  in  beginning  and 
promoting  the  religious  concern  in  several  places 
where  there  was  little  appearance  of  it  before. 
This,  together  with  his  speaking  pretty  freely 
about  the  degeneracy  of  the  clergy  in  this  colony, 
gave  a  general  alarm,  and  some  measures  were 
concerted  to  suppress  us.  To  incense  the  indig- 
nation of  the  government  the  more,  a  perfidious 
wretch  deponed  he  heard  Mr.  Roan  utter  blasphe- 
mous expressions  in  his  sermon.  An  indictment 
was  thereupon  drawn  up  against  Mr.  Roan,  (though 
by  that  time  he  had  departed  the  colony.)  and 
some  who  had  invited  him  to  preach  at  their 
houses  were  cited  to  appear  before  the  general 
court,  and  two  of  them  were  fined.  While  my 
cause  was  upon  trial,  I  had  reason  to  rtijoice  that 
the  throne  of  grace  is  accessible  in  all  places,  and 
that  helpless  creatures  can  send  up  their  desires 
4 


42  BEFORE    HIS   ORDINATION. 

unseen,  in  the  midst  of  a  crowd.  Six  witnesses 
were  cited  to  prove  the  indictment  against  Mr. 
Roan,  but  their  depositions  were  in  his  favour; 
and  the  witness  who  accused  him  of  blasphemy, 
when  he  heard  of  the  arrival  of  Messrs.  Tennent 
and  Finley,  fled,  and  has  not  returned  since; 
so  that  the  indictment  was  dropped.  But  I  liad 
reason  to  fear  being  banished  the  colony,  and  all 
circumstances  seemed  to  threaten  the  extirpation 
of  religion  among  the  dissenters  in  these  parts. 
In  these  difficulties,  having  no  person  of  a  public 
character  to  appear  in  our  favour,  we  were  deter- 
mined to  acquaint  the  synod  of  New  York  with 
our  case.  Accordingly  four  of  us  went  to  the 
synod,  May,  1745,  when  the  Lord  favoured  us 
with  success.  The  synod  drew  up  an  address  to 
our  governor,  the  honourable  Sir  William  Gooch, 
and  sent  it  with  Messrs.  Tennent  and  Finley,  who 
were  received  by  the  governor  with  respect,  and 
liad  liberty  granted  them  to  preach  among  us.  By 
this  means  the  dreadful  cloud  was  scattered  for  a 
while,  and  our  languid  hopes  revived.  They  con- 
tinued with  us  about  a  week,  and  though  the 
deluge  of  passion  in  which  we  were  at  first  over- 
whelmed, was  by  this  time  somewhat  abated,  yet 
much  good  was  done  by  their  ministry.  The 
people  of  God  were  refreshed,  and  several  careless 
sinners  were  awakened.  Some  that  had  trusted 
before  in  their  moral  conduct,  and  religious  duties, 
were  convinced  of  the  depravity  of  their  nature, 
and  the  necessity  of  regeneration ;  though  indeed 
there  were  but  few  nnregone rate  persons  among  us 
at  that  time,  that  could  claim  so  regular  a  character; 
the  most  part  indulging  themselves  in  criminal 
liberties,  and  being  remiss  in  the  duties  of  religion, 
which,  alas !  is  too  commonly  the  case  still,  in 


BEFORE   HIS   ORDINATION.  43 

such  parts  of  the  colony  as  the  late  revival  tlid  not 
extend  to.  After  they  left  us,  we  continued  va- 
cant for  a  considerable  time,  and  kept  up  our 
meetings  for  reading  and  prayer,  in  several  places, 
and  the  Lord  favoured  us  with  his  presence.  I 
was  again  repeatedly  presented  and  lined  in  court, 
for  absenting  myself  from  church,  and  keeping  up 
unlawful  meetings,  as  they  were  called  ;  '  but  the 
bush  flourished  in  the  flames.'  The  next  that 
were  appointed  to  supply  us,  were  the  Rev. 
Messrs.  William  Tennent  and  Samuel  Blair.  'J'hey 
administered  the  Lord's  supper  among  us  ;  and  we 
have  reason  ever  to  remember  it  as  a  most  glorious 
day  of  the  Son  of  man.  The  assembly  was  large, 
and  the  novelty  of  the  manner  of  the  administra- 
tion did  peculiarly  engage  their  attention.  It  ap- 
peared as  one  of  the  days  of  heaven  to  some  of  us  ; 
and  we  could  hardly  help  wishing  we  could,  with 
Joshua,  have  delayed  the  revolutions  of  the  hea- 
vens to  prolong  it.  After  Messrs.  Tennent  and 
Blair  were  gone,  Mr.  Whitefield  came  and  preached 
four  or  Ave  days,  which  was  the  happy  means  of 
giving  us  further  encouragement,  and  engaging 
others  to  the  Lord,  especially  among  the  church- 
people,  who  received  the  gospel  more  readily  from 
him  than  from  ministers  of  the  Presbyterian  deno- 
mination. After  his  departure,  we  were  destitute 
of  a  minister,  and  followed  our  usual  method  of 
reading  and  prayer  at  our  meetings,  till  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Davies,  our  present  pastor,  was  sent  us  by  the 
presbytery,  to  supply  us  a  few  weeks  in  the  spring, 
1747,  when  our  discouragements  from  the  govern- 
ment were  renewed  and  multiplied;  for,  upon  a 
Lord's-day,  a  proclamation  was  set  up  at  our 
meeting-house,  strictly  requiring  all  magistrates  to 
suppress    and   prohibit,    as    far  as   they  lawfully 


44  BEFORE   HIS    ORDINATION. 

could,  all  itinerant  preachers,  (fee,  which  occa- 
sioned us  to  forbear  reading  that  day,  till  we  had 
time  to  deliberate  and  consult  what  was  expedient 
to  do;  but  how  joyfully  were  we  surprised,  before 
the  next  Sabbaih,  when  we  unexpectedly  heard 
that  Mr.  Davies  was  come  to  preach  so  long  among 
us,  and  especially  that  he  had  qualified  himself  ac- 
cording to  law,  and  obtained  the  licensing  of  four 
meeting-houses  among  us,  which  had  never  been 
done  before.  Thus  man's  extremity  is  the  Lord's 
opportunity.  For  this  seasonable  interposition  of 
Divine  Providence,  we  desire  to  offer  our  grateful 
praises,  and  we  importune  the  friends  of  Zion  to 
concur  with  us." 

Such  was  the  situation  in  which  Mr.  Rodgers 
and  his  companion  found  the  Presbyterians  of 
Hanover,  and  the  adjoining  counties,  when  they 
reached  Virginia.  They  preached  one  Sabbath  at 
Hanover,  in  a  licensed  house,  and  then  pursued 
their  journey  to  Williamsburg,  to  present  them- 
selves before  the  general  court,  for  the  purpose  of 
taking  the  necessary  qualifications,  and  obtaining 
license  to  preach,  agreeably  to  the  act  of  toleration. 
The  general  court,  it  seems,  had  taken  the  power 
of  granting  licenses  in  such  cases,  out  of  the  hands 
of  the  county  courts,  to  which  it  had  been  com- 
mitted by  the  Act,  and  claimed  it  exclusively  as 
their  prerogative.  This  unlawful  assumption  of 
the  general  court,  was  chiefly  owing  to  the  anxiety 
of  the  established  clergy,  who  had  become  very 
uneasy  at  the  growing  extension  and  infiuence  of 
Presbyterianism;  and  feared  an  undue  facility 
and  readiness  in  the  county  courts,  in  complying 
with  the  solicitations  of  applicants. 

Sir  William  Gooch  was  now  lieutenant  governor 
of  Virginia.     He  was  a  man  of  mild  and  amiable 


BEFORE   HIS   ORDINATION.  45 

character,  and  strongly  opposed  to  the  persecution 
of  dissenters.  He  received  Mr.  Davies  and  Mr. 
Roilgers  with  great  politeness,  and  introduced  them 
to  the  court.  Tlie  application  of  the  former,  to  be 
allowed  to  complete  his  qualifications  as  a  resident 
preacher,  was  first  received  and  considered.  But 
when  a  similar  application  was  made  on  behalf  of 
Mr.  Rodgers,  difiiculties  were  started  and  much 
opposition  manifested.  Mr.  Rodgers  produced  his 
testimonials  from  the  Presbytery,  &c.,  and  re- 
quested that  they  might  be  read ;  but  this  was 
opposed.  Sir  William  Gooch  repeatedly  ordered 
the  clerk  of  the  court  to  take  them  from  Mr.  Rod- 
gers, who  stood  holding  them  in  his  hand,  and  to 
read  them  ;  but  more  than  one  of  the  members  of 
the  court  pointedly  objected  to  his  proceeding; 
alleging  that  it  was  their  right  to  sit  in  council  on 
the  subject,  before  any  further  step  was  taken  ; 
and  that  they  demanded  the  exercise  of  the  privi- 
lege on  the  present  occasion.  Sir  William  then 
bowing  to  Mr.  Davies  and  Mr.  Rodgers,  said, 
"  Gentlemen,  you  shall  hear  from  us  in  a  day  or 
two."  They  immediately  withdrew  to  their  lodg- 
ings, deeply  affected  with  iheir  situation  ;  shut 
themselves  up  in  their  chamber;  and  poured  out 
their  hearts  to  God  in  fervent  prayer. 

In  the  alternoon  of  the  next  day,  Sir  William 
Gooch  sent  for  them,  requesting  to  see  them  at 
his  house,  to  which  they  immediately  repaired. 
There  they  found  Sir  William,  together  with  three 
other  members  of  the  court,  who  were  friendly  to 
their  views.  On  being  seated.  Sir  William  ad- 
dressed himself  to  Mr.  Davies  in  the  following 
terms  :  »'  Sir,  it  has  been  with  the  greatest  diffi- 
culty that  we  have  been  able  to  prevent  the  court 
from  revoking  your  license,  arid  sending  you  out 


46  BEFORE   HIS   ORDINATION. 

of  the  colony.  This,  however,  we  liave  been 
happy  eiiDUgh  to  prevent."  Then  turning  to  Mr. 
Rodgers,  he  said,  "  I  am  extremely  sorry  to  inform 
you,  Sir,  that  the  gentlemen  of  the  court  will  by 
no  means  consent  to  your  qualifying,  as  the  law 
directs,  for  preaching  in  the  colony."  Mr.  Rod- 
gers  thanked  Sir  William  for  his  friendship;  but 
added,  that  he  was  not  asking  a  favour,  but  plead- 
ing a  right;  and  therefore  could  not  help  consi- 
dering himself  as  injured  by  its  refusal.  Sir  Wil- 
liam acknowledged  the  justice  of  this  remark,  and 
again  expressed  his  regret  at  the  course  things  had 
taken. 

In  the  evening  of  the  same  day,  the  gentlemen 
received  a  very  polite  note  from  the  lieutenant 
governor,  advising  them  to  present  a  memorial  to 
the  court  on  the  subject  of  their  application;  at 
the  same  time  informing  them,  that,  from  conside- 
rations of  prudence,  he  determined  to  absent  him- 
self from  the  court  on  the  following  day,  when  he 
took  for  granted  their  memorial  would  be  present- 
ed, if  at  all.  Upon  this  suggestion  they  prepared 
a  respectful  but  spirited  memorial,  which  they 
signed,  and  presented  the  next  day  to  the  court. 
When  it  was  read,  the  oldest  member  of  the  court, 
who  tilled  the  chair  in  the  absence  of  the  lieutenant 
governor,  put  an  end  to  further  discussion,  by  de- 
claring publicly  and  with  warmth,  "  We  have  Mr. 
Rodgers  out,  and  we  are  determined  to  keep  him 
out." 

This  extraordinary  proceeding  is  susceptible  of 
the  following  explanation.  When  Mr.  Davies  first 
went  to  Virginia,  the  established  clergy  felt  but 
little  anxiety  about  the  influence  of  Presbyterian- 
ism,  considering  it  as  too  small  and  feeble  a  cause 
to  excite  apprehension.     But  when  the  labours  of 


BEFORE   HIS  ORDINATION,  47 

Mr.  Davies  appeared  evidently  to  be  gaining  an 
unexpected  influence;  when  tliey  found  that  Mr. 
Rodgers  was  an  animated  and  popular  preacher, 
exceedinglv  likely  to  make  an  impression  ;  and 
that  other  Presbyterian  ministers  were  settling  and 
labouring  with  success  in  several  adjacent  parts  of 
the  country;  they  became  alarmed,  and  resolved, 
at  all  events,  to  arrest  the  progress  of,  what  they 
deemed,  a  threatening  evil.  Under  these  impres- 
sions, they  would  have  refused  to  allow  Mr.  Da- 
vies  to  proceed  in  completing  his  qualifications, 
liad  they  not  given  to  him,  by  the  transactions  of 
the  preceding  year,  a  pledge  of  his  admission, 
which  it  was  not  easy  either  to  explain  away  or 
to  recall.  They  considered  it,  therefore,  as  the 
less  evil  of  the  two  to  admit  him  ;  but  having  given 
to  Mr.  Rodgers  no  such  pledge,  and  his  circum- 
stances being  considerably  difl'erent  from  those  of 
Mr.  Davies,  they  determined  to  exclude  him  from 
the  dominion.  He  was  accordingly  forbidden,  in 
the  most  peremptory  manner,  to  preach  within  the 
colony,  under  the  penalty  of  a  fine  of  £500,  and  a 
year's  imprisonment,  without  bail  or  mainprize.* 

*  The  ground  taken  by  the  government  of  Virginia 
against  dissenters,  at  this  period,  was  not  always  the 
same.  Sometimes  there  was  a  disposition  in  the  eourts  to 
treat  them  according  to  the  rigour  of  the  Act  of  Uniform- 
ity. They  contended  that  tlie  Act  of  Toleration  was  never 
intended  for  the  colonies.  In  the  general  court,  where 
this  doctrine  was  for  a  time  maintained  with  great  ctjnfi- 
dence  by  the  king's  attorney,  Mr.  Davies,  on  a  certain 
occasion,  defended  his  own  cause,  by  special  permission, 
and,  in  a  very  luminous  and  eloquent  speech,  ])roved,  that 
the  Act  of  Toleration  having  been  intended  to  mitigate 
and  qualify  the  Act  of  Uniformity,  must,  upon  every  just 
principle,  be  considered  as  extending  as  far  as  the  original 
law;  and  observed,  tliat  if  it  were  decided  that  the  Act  of 


48  BEFORE   HIS   ORDINATION. 

Sir  William  Gooch,  the  lieutenant  governor, 
paid  particular  attention  to  Mr.  Davies  and  Mr. 
Rodgers,  and  invited  them  to  his  house  repeated- 
ly.* There  they  met  with  three  members  of  the 
general  court,  Mr.  Blair,  the  son  of  the  venerable 
commissary,!  Dr.  Dick,  and  another  gentleman, 

Toleration  did  not  extend  to  the  colonies,  it  would  follow 
that  the  Act  of  Uniformity  did  not.  This  occurrence 
seems  to  have  taken  place  soon  after  the  exclusion  of  Mr. 
Rodgers.  The  decisions  of  the  courts,  however,  continued 
to  be  fluctuating,  until  Mr.  Davies  returned  from  England, 
with  the  opinion  in  writing  of  Sir  Dudley  Rider,  the  attor- 
ney general,  which  was  favourable  to  dissenters.  This 
was  produced  to  the  general  court  in  the  case  of  an  appli- 
cation being  made  to  have  some  place  licensed  for  dissent- 
ing worship.  After  this  no  legal  obstructions  were  thrown 
in  the  way  of  Presbyterians,  except  such  as  exist  in  Eng- 
land. 

*  Soon  after  Mr.  Rodgers  reached  Williamsburg,  one  of 
the  established  clergy  of  Hanover,  who  had  followed  him, 
appeared  before  Sir  William  Gooch,  and  complained  that 
this  young  gentleman,  before  going  to  Williamsburg,  had 
preached  one  sermon,  in  Hanover,  contrary  to  law,  urging 
Sir  William  to  proceed  against  him  with  rigour.  Sir  Wil- 
liam's reply  did  equal  lionour  to  his  religious  sentiments 

and  his  official  liberality.     "  Mr. ,  I  am  surprised  at 

you!  You  profess  to  be  a  minister  of  Jesus  Christ,  and 
you  come  to  me  to  complain  of  a  man,  and  wish  me  to 
punish  him,  for  preaching  the  gospel!  For  shame,  sir  !  Go 
home  and  mind  your  own  duty!  For  such  a  piece  of  con- 
duct, you  deserve  to  have  your  gown  stript  over  your 
shoulders." 

t  'i  he  Rev.  James  Blair  was  born  and  educated  in  Scot- 
land, where  he  obtained  a  benefice  in  the  Episcopal  church. 
On  account  of  the  unsettled  state  of  religion  in  that  kingi 
dom,  he  quitted  his  preferment,  and  went  into  England, 
near  the  end  of  the  reign  of  Charles  II.  The  Bisliop  of 
London  considering  him  as  well  qualified  for  the  office, 
both  with  respect  to  talents  and  piety,  prevailed  on  him  to 
go  to  Virginia  as  a  missionary,  where  he  was  highly  popu- 


BEFORE   HIS   ORDINATION.  49 

all  of  whom  regretted  the  inaniier  in  which  Mr. 
Rodgers  had  been  treated,  and  were  desirous  of 
procuring  a  reconsideration  of  his  case,  and  if  pos- 
sible, redress.  But,  after  much  deliberation,  it 
was  judged  inexpedient  to  attempt  any  thing  fur- 
ther at  that  time. 

Being  thus  cruelly  and  illegally  expelled,  in  his 
ecclesiastical  character,  from  Virginia,  Mr.  Rod- 
gers determined,  without  delay,  to  quit  the  domin- 
ion. He  lamented,  however,  afterwards,  that  he 
had  not  appealed  to  the  King,  in  council,  as  such 
a  measure  would  not  only,  in  all  probability,  have 
secured  redress  in  his  own  case,  but  also  have  done 
good  in  subsequent  cases  of  a  similar  kind.  The 
celebrated  Dr.  Doddridge,  of  Great  Britain,  also 
expressed  his  regret  that  such  a  step  had  not  been 

lar,  and  extensively  useful.  In  1G89,  he  obtained  the  ap- 
pointment of  ecclesiastical  commissary  for  the  colony. 
Mr.  Blair  solicited  a  charter  and  donations  for  William 
and  Mary  College,  and  was  the  principal  agent  in  found- 
ing that  institution.  He  was  named  in  the  charter  as  the 
first  President  of  the  College,  and  acted  in  that  capacity, 
with  fidelity  and  acceptance,  until  the  year  1742.  In  1743, 
he  died,  in  Virginia,  at  a  good  old  age,  universally  lament- 
ed. He  was  a  learned,  pious,  and  exemplary  man,  and 
filled  the  various  stations  to  which  he  was  called  with 
honour  and  usefulness.  This  gentleman  jiublished  four 
volumes  of  discourses  under  the  following  title:  "Our 
Saviour's  Divine  Sermon  on  the  Mount  explained,  and  re- 
commended, in  divers  Sermons  and  Discourses."  London, 
8vo.  1742.  This  work  is  spoken  of  with  high  approbation 
by  Dr.  Doddridge,  in  his  Family  Expositor.  Mr.  lilair 
treated  Mr.  VVhitcfield,  wlien  he  visited  Virginia,  with 
much  respect  and  friendliness,  invited  him  to  prcacii,  and 
encouraged  his  evangelical  labours.  His  laudable  exer- 
tions in  favour  of  religion  and  literature  are  mentioned 
with  pointed  respect  by  Bishop  Burnet,  in  his  History  of 
his  own  times.     See  vol.  iv.  p.  174. 


50  BEFORE  HIS  ORDINATION. 

taken.  He  wished  for  an  opportunity  of  seeing 
the  pious  and  promising  young  American,  who 
had  been  thus  treated ;  and  who,  by  appealing, 
would  have  been  led  to  make  a  voyage  to  the  mo- 
ther country  ;  and  he  believed  that  a  favourable  de- 
cision obtained,  in  the  last  resort,  in  such  a  case, 
would  have  been  extensively  useful. 

Mr,  Rodgers,  quitting  the  Western  Shore  of  Vir- 
ginia, crossed  the  bay,  and  came  up  the  peninsu- 
la, to  Somerset  county,  in  INIaryland,  where  he 
spent  the  summer  of  1748 — a  summer  of  which 
he  was  accustomed  often  to  speak  as  one  of  the 
most  pleasant  and  useful  of  his  life.  The  easy 
and  elegant  hospitality  of  the  inhabitants  of  Mary- 
land, has  been  long  and  justly  celebrated.  When 
this  characteristic  disposition  is  sanctified  by  reli- 
gion, and  has,  for  its  more  immediate  objects,  the 
eminently  pious,  and  especially  zealous  and  ex- 
emplary ministers  of  the  gospel,  those  who  have 
had  the  opportunity  have  observed  it  to  be  displayed 
with  peculiar  assiduity  and  attraction.  Our  pro- 
mising young  herald  of  the  cross  was  received 
with  open  arms  by  the  polished  and  hospitable  in- 
habitants of  Somerset  county.  His  genteel  and 
dignified  manners  were  peculiarly  acceptable  to 
them;  and  the  zeal,  the  piety,  and  the  various  re- 
spectable qualities  of  his  preaching,  rendered  him 
higldy  popular. 

In  tliis  county  he  made  the  house  of  Captain 
Venable,  at  the  liead  of  Wicomico  river,  more  par- 
ticularly his  home.  liut  the  friendly  attentions  of 
those  to  whom  he  was  introduced,  as  well  as  an 
unremitting  ardour  in  preaching  the  gospel,  where- 
ever  he  had  an  opportunity,  drew  him  in  every 
direction  through  tiiat  district  of  country.  His 
ministrations,  in  the  course  of  this  summer,  were, 


BEFORE   HIS   ORDINATION,  51 

in  a  very  uncommon  degree,  blessed,  to  tlie  con- 
viction and  conversion  of  sinners,  and  to  the  edi- 
fication of  the  pious.  He  often  expressed  a  con- 
viction that  he  had  been  made  the  means  of  doing 
more  good,  during  that  short  period  of  three  or 
four  months,  than  in  any  equal  period  of  his  life 
afterwards.  The  triumphs  of  the  gospel  were  nu- 
merous and  signal.  In  several  cases,  indeed,  they 
were  so  remarkable  as  to  be  abundantly  worthy  of 
being  recorded,  did  not  the  limits  prescribed  to 
this  memoir  forbid  our  descending  to  such  mi- 
nuteness of  detail.  A  single  case  shall  serve  as  a 
specimen. 

About  a  mile  below  Captain  Venable's,  on  the 
Wicomico,  lived  Mr.  Winder,  a  gentleman  of  great 
wealth  and  urbanity,  a  polite  scholar,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Episcopal  church.  Notwithstanding 
his  religious  connexion,  however,  he  called,  with 
much  civility,  at  the  house  of  his  neighbour,  to  see 
the  young  Presbyterian  preacher,  and  invited  him 
to  pay  him  a  visit.  Mr.  Rodgers  accepted  the  in- 
vitation, and  went  accordingly.  He  was  apprised 
by  the  members  of  Captain  Venable's  family,  who 
accompanied  him,  that  Mr.  Winder  was  a  zealous, 
high-toned  Episcopalian,  and,  particularly,  that  he 
was  a  very  determined  and  ardent  opponent  of  the 
doctrine  of  Election.  He  thanked  his  informants 
for  this  hint,  and  promised  to  be  on  his  guard 
against  any  unnecessary  collision  with  his  respect- 
able host  on  the  topics  on  which  they  differed. 
Mr.  Rodgers,  however,  was  scarcely  seated  in  his 
house,  before  Mr.  Winder  himself  introduced  the 
controversy  respecting  election,  by  asking  his 
opinion  of  a  book  on  that  subject,  which  was  ly- 
ing open  on  a  table  in  the  parlour,  and  which  had 


52  BEFORE   HIS   ORDINATION. 

been,  probably,  placed  there  by  design.  Our  young 
preacher  replied  that  he  had  never  before  seen  the 
book  referred  to,  but  that  he  was  a  very  firm  be- 
liever in  the  doctrine  of  election,  and  could  not 
help  regarding  it  as  a  very  important  and  precious 
part  of  the  Christian  system.  This  plunged  them 
at  once  into  the  midst  of  the  dispute  ;  which  was 
continued,  with  a  few  interruptions,  during  the  rest 
of  tiie  day.  Mr.  Rodgers  plied  his  opponent  with 
the  usual  arguments,  drawn  I'rom  the  perfections 
of  God;  from  the  inseparable  connexion  of  pre- 
determination, with  foreknowledge;  from  the  con- 
sideration, that  if  all  men  be  not  saved,  and  if 
salvation  be  of  God,  there  must  be  a  choice — a  se- 
lection from  the  wholenumberof  the  human  family; 
from  express  and  pointed  declarations  of  Scripture 
on  this  subject;  and  from  the  utter  impossibility 
of  supposing  prophecies  to  be  either  understand- 
ingly  revealed,  or  certainly  fulfilled,  without  ad- 
mitting, at  the  same  time,  the  doctrine  of  predesti- 
nation. To  all  these,  he  added  an  appeal  to  the 
articles  of  Mr.  Winder's  own  church,  in  which  the 
doctrine  of  election,  precisely  as  held  by  Calviii- 
ists,  is  most  clearly  and  strongly  laid  down.  Mr. 
Rodgers  acknowledged  that  there  were  difficulties 
attending  tl)is  doctrine,  which  he  did  not  presume 
to  be  able  to  solve  ;  but  warned  Mr.  Winder  of  the 
danger  of  opposing  a  doctrine  which  the  pious  and 
venerable  fathers  of  his  own  church,  with  their 
collected  wisdom,  had  pronounced  to  be  full  of 
"  sweet,  pleasant,  and  unspeakable  comfort,  to  god- 
ly persons ;"  though  exceedingly  liable,  as  they 
ad(l,  to  be  perverted  by  "curious  and  carnal  per- 
sons, lacking  the  spirit  of  Christ,"  and  to  become, 
to  such  persons,  a  means  of  most  "dangerous  down- 


BEFORE   HIS   ORDINATION.  53 

fall  ;"*  and,  above  all,  warned  him  against  the 
rejection  of  a  doctrine  which  appeared  to  be  so 
plainly  and  decisively  laid  down  in  many  parts  of 
the  Scriptures  of  infallible  truth. 

Mr.  Winder  acknowledged  himself  silenced,  but 
not  convinced.  He  was  evidently,  however,  less 
warm  and  positive  toward  the  close  of  the  visit, 
than  when  the  dispute  commenced  ;  and  dismiss- 
ed his  guest  in  the  evening  with  much  respect  and 
friendliness. 

The  next  Sabbath  Mr.  Rodgers  preached  in  the 
neighbourhood,  Mr.  Winder  was  one  of  his 
hearers:  and  the  faithful  and  animated  discourse, 
founded  on  Ephesians  ii.  8;  "  For  by  grace  are  ye 
saved,  through  faith  ;  and  that  not  of  yourselves 
it  is  the  gift  of  God" — was  made  the  means  of 
reaching  his  heart.  He,  in  common  with  a  num- 
ber of  others,  was  deeply  affected  in  the  course  of 

*  See  Article  xvii. — The  Calvinism  of  tiie  thirty-nine  Ar- 
ticles of  the  Church  of  England,  has  often  hcen  denied  by 
modern  Episcopalians,  as  sug'g-ested  in  a  foregoing  note. 
But  there  is  one  fact  on  the  subject  which  the  language  of 
the  17th  Article,  as  above  quoted,  renders  ineontrovertibly 
evident.  It  is  this  :  that  the  compilers  of  the  Article  held, 
and  meant  to  express,  the  doctrine  of  Predestination,  in  a 
form,  which,  though  "  full  of  sweet,  pleasant,  and  unspeak- 
able comfort,  to  godly  persons,"  was  yet  not  only  myste- 
rious, but  also  highly  offensive  to  the  natural  feelings  of 
men  ;  in  a  form  exceedingly  liable,  in  their  view,  to  per- 
version, and,  when  perverted,  to  become  a  source  of  dan- 
ger to  the  over-curious  speculatist.  Now  we  may  safely 
appeal  to  Arminians,  and  ask,  wliether  these  cautioning 
and  qualifying  clauses  are  at  all  applicable  to  their  views 
of  the  doctrine  of  election;  and  whether  their  whole 
spirit  and  force  do  not  refer  to  the  Calvinistic  view  of  the 
subject  ?  Such  cautions  and  qualifying  suggestions  are  not 
to  be  found  in  Arminian  writers;  while,  in  Calvinistic 
writings,  tiiey  are  scarcely  ever  omitted. 


54  BEFORE  HIS  ORDINATION. 

the  service,  and  retired  from  the  house  of  worship 
with  very  different  views  of  himself,  and  of  the 
way  of  salvation,  from  those  with  which  he  came 
thither,  or  had  ever  entertained  before.  The  next 
day,  he  called  on  Mr.  Rodgers;  not  to  cavil  at  the 
doctrine  of  election  ;  not  to  speculate  on  the  mys- 
teries of  religion,  as  matters  of  curious  investiga- 
tion; but,  as  a  convinced  and  humbled  sinner,  to 
ask,  what  he  should  do  to  be  saved?  His  heart 
was  now  softened  ;  his  difficulties  were  in  a  great 
measure  removed ;  he  was  convinced  that  if  ever 
he  were  saved,  it  must  be  by  grace  alone ;  he  was 
ready  to  acknowledge  himself  an  instance  of  the 
sovereignty  of  divine  grace  ;  and,  in  a  short  time, 
found  sweet  peace  and  consolation  in  those  truths 
which  had,  a  few  days  before,  appeared  to  him  un- 
scriptural  and  forbidding.  Not  long  afterwards  he 
united  himself  in  communion  with  the  Presbyte- 
rian Cluirch;  was  for  many  years,  not  <inly  a  dis- 
tinguished, exemplary,  and  useful  member,  but 
also  a  ruling  elder  of  that  church  in  Somerset 
county;  and  often  spoke  of  the  revolution  which 
his  views  and  hopes  had  undergone,  and  of  the 
circumstances  attending  it.  with  deep  humility, 
and  fervent  thankfulness. 

Early  in  the  autumn  of  the  year  1748,  Mr. 
Rodgers  took  leave  of  Maryland,  and  returned  to 
Pennsylvania.  When  he  attended  his  Presbytery, 
in  the  month  of  October,  he  found  four  calls  for 
him,  ready  to  be  laid  before  that  body.  One,  of 
the  most  afl'eclionale  and  pressing  kind,  from 
Somerset  county,  in  Maryland,  which  he  had  re- 
cently left ;  one  from  Canococheague,  and  another 
from  Pequea,  bolh  in  Pennsylvania;  and  the 
fourth  from  St.  George's,  a  small  village,  in  the 
county   of  Newcastle,   in   Delaware.      Of  these 


ST.  George's.  55 

several  calls,  that  from  Somerset  county,  was,  in 
every  respect,  most  agreeable  to  his  own  views 
and  wishes.  There  he  had  been  more  useful  than 
in  any  other  part  of  the  church  ;  and  there  he  had 
received  such  testimonies  of  respect  and  attach- 
ment as  made  a  deep  and  lasting  impression  on  his 
mind.  Had  he  been  left  to  follow  his  own  incli- 
nation, he  would,  undoubtedly,  without  a  mo- 
ment's hesitation,  fiave  accepted  this  call.  But  it 
was  ordered  otherwise.  Though  the  congrega- 
tion of  St.  George's  was  the  smallest  and  feeblest 
of  the  whole  number  that  solicited  his  pastoral  la- 
bours; and  though  a  settlement  among  them  was 
less  promising,  on  the  score  of  temporal  provision 
and  comfort,  than  in  any  of  the  other  places  in  his 
offer;  yet  his  brethren  in  the  ministry,  and  other 
pious  friends,  believing  that  the  prosperity,  if  not 
the  continued  existence  of  this  congregation,  de- 
pended under  God,  on  their  speedily  obtaining  a 
popular  preacher,  urged  him  so  much  to  accept 
their  call,  that  he  thought  it  his  duty  to  do  so;  and 
accordingly  declared  his  acceptance  of  it  at  the 
same  meeting  of  Presbytery  at  which  it  was  pre- 
sented. 


CHAPTER  III. 

From  his  settlement  in  St.  Georg-e's,  until  liis  removal  to 
New  York. 

Mr.  Rodgers  was  ordained  to  the  work  of  the 
gospel  ministry,  and  installed  pastor  of  the  church 
of  St.  George's,  by   the  Presbytery  of  Newcas- 


56  ST.  George's. 

tie,  on  the  16t]i  day  of  March,  in  the  year  1749. 
Solemnilies  of  this  kind,  when  even  tolerably  con- 
ducted, are  always  highly  interesting  to  the  pious 
mind  ;  but,  on  this  occasion,  they  were  peculiarly 
so.  The  ardent  piety  of  the  candidate;  his  youth, 
his  great  pojmlarity,  the  striking  testimonies  of 
attachment  which  he  received  from  the  people  of  * 
his  charge,  and  the  venerable  character  of  several 
of  the  ministers  who  took  part  in  the  transaction,* 
all  conspired  to  render  the  scene  uncommonly  im- 
pressive and  gratifying.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Blair, 
the  preceptor  and  friend  of  Mr.  Rodgers,  presided 
in  the  laying  on  of  the  hands  of  the  Presbytery. 
The  sermon,  usual  on  such  occasions,  was  preach- 
ed by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Finley,t  and  was  after- 

*  Among  the  members  of  the  Presbytery  who  were 
present  on  this  occasion,  besides  Mr.  Blair  and  Dr.  Fin- 
ley,  there  were  the  Rev.  Messrs.  John  Blair,  Samuel  Da- 
vies,  Charles  Tennent,  and  Alexander  Hutchinson,  all  emi- 
nent in  their  day. 

t  The  Rev.  Samuel  Finley,  D.D.  was  born  in  Ireland. 
He  left  liis  native  country  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  and  ar- 
rived at  Philadelphia  on  the  28th  day  of  Sept.  1734. 
With  a  fixed  view  to  the  gospel  ministry,  lie  had  made 
considerable  progress  in  liis  classical  studies  before  he 
left  Ireland.  Alter  his  arrival  in  America,  he  spent 
several  years  in  prosecuting  his  academical  and  theologi- 
cal studies.  In  August,  1740,  he  was  licensed  to  preach; 
and  on  the  13th  day  of  October  following,  he  was  ordain- 
ed to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  by  the  Presbytery  of  New 
Brunswick.  After  his  ordination,  he  spent  several  years 
in  itinerant  preaching,  in  which  he  was  more  than  usu- 
ally zealous  and  successful.  In  June,  1644,  he  accepted 
a  call  to  tlie  pastoral  charge  of  the  church  of  West  Not- 
tingham, in  Cecil  county,  in  Maryland,  where  he  con- 
tinued to  reside  near  seventeen  years.  Here  lie  establi-hed 
an  Academy,  which  acquired  and  maintained  a  high  re- 
putation, in  this  institution,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Macwhorter, 
Dr.  Rush,  Governor   Henry,  of  Maryland,  Colonel  John 


ST.  George's.  57 

wards  printed,  at  the  request  of  the  congrega- 
tion. 

Our  young  pastor,  after  his  ordination,  imme- 
diately entered,  with  ardour  and  diligence,  on  the 
duties  of  his  oifice.  In  preaching;  in  visiting  his 
])eople ;  in  catechizing  tfie  children,  and  those  of 
riper  years ;  and  in  all  tiie  multiplied  and  arduous 
lal)ours  of  a  faithful  minister  of  Ciirist,  who  watch- 
ed for  souls,  he  abounded.  Nor  did  he  labour  in 
vain.  The  congregation  rapidly  increased ;  a 
number  of  hopeful  converts  were  in  a  short  time 
added  to  the  church;  the  place  of  worship  soon 
became  too  small  to  accommodate  the  people,  and 
was  enlarged  ;  but  not  long  afterwards,  it  was 
still  found  insufficient  to  contain  the  numbers  who 
crowded  to  public  worship,  and  was  again  en- 
larged ;  while  the  growing  respect  and  attachment 
of  his  people,  and  ihe  increasing  confidence  and 
esteem  of  his  fathers  and  brethren  in  the  ministry, 
were  pledges  at  once,  of  his  rising  reputation,  and 
of  his  exiending  usefulness. 

Soon  after  his  settlement  at  St.  George's  he 
renewed,  in  a  solemn  written  form,  his  self-dedica- 

Bayard,  and  a  number  of  other  eminently  useful  charac- 
ters, received  their  education.  Upon  tlie  death  of  Presi- 
dent Davies,  in  1761,  Dr.  Finley  was  chosen  his  succes- 
sor, and  removed  to  Princeton  in  the  month  of  July,  of 
that  year,  He  died  in  Phiiadelpliia,  whither  lie  had  gone 
for  medical  advice,  on  tlic  17th  day  of  July,  1766,  in  the 
51st  year  of  his  age.  Dr.  Finley  was  a  man  of  sound 
and  vigorous  mind,  of  extensive  learning,  and  of  unusually 
fervent  piety.  lie  hud  the  ministry  in  view  from  the 
sixth  year  of  his  age,  and  always  adorned  tlie  sacred 
oiiice.  Seldom  has  a  life  been  more  e.\em|)lary  or  more 
useful;  and  seldom,  very  seldom,  has  a  death  been  more 
joyful  and  triumphant  than  liis. 
5 


58  ST.  George's. 

lion  to  God.  When  his  private  papers  were  ex- 
amined after  his  death,  a  document  of  this  nature 
was  found  among  ihem,  bearing  date  a  short  time 
after  his  ordination.  It  is  drawn  up  on  what  may 
be  supposed  to  be  the  usual  plan  of  such  instru- 
ments; and  is  in  no  respect  remarkable,  excepting 
for  the  humility  and  the  devout  fervour  of  its 
style.  From  tlie  same  source  it  is  ascertained, 
that  he  made  a  formal  written  renewal  of  this  dedi- 
cation at  least  thirty-nne  times,  after  the  first  that 
appears  on  record;*  llie  last  being  about  three 
years  before  his  deatli.  All  these  papers  appear 
to  have  been  drawn  up,  and  the  transactions  wiiich 
they  express  to  have  taken  place,  on  days  of  fast- 
ing and  special  prayer,  seasons  in  which  he 
abounded  through  the  whole  of  his  life.  It  was  a 
common  remark  of  an  old  divine,  that  prayer  more 
than  any  thing  else  makes  a  good  minister.  It 
may  be  said,  to  the  honour  of  the  excellent  minis- 
ter, whose  portrait  we  are  now  attempting  to 
sketch,  that  there  was  no  part  of  his  character 
more  conspicuous  than  his  devotional  spirit.  It 
was  habitual  and  uniform.  It  shone  in  private  as 
well  as  in  public.  And  while  he  often  inculcated 
on  his  j'ounger  brethren  in  the  ministry,  the  great 
importance  to  their  comfort  and  usefulness,  of 
maintaining  their  personal  piety  in  a  lively  frame, 
he  was  himself  one  of  the  most  eminent  examples 
of  what  he  recommended  to  others.  Besides 
other  seasons,  both  of  ordinary  and  special  devo- 
tion, he  seldom  failed  to  observe  the  anniversaries 
of  his  birth,  of  his  licensure,  and  of  his  ordination, 

*  Several  of  the  earlier  of  these  written  renewals  of  his 
covenant  with  God,  are  in  the  Latin  language. 


ST.  George's.  59 

as  days  of  solemn  humiliation,  fasting,  and  prayer. 
And  on  these  occasions,  he  was  accustomed  to 
commit  to  writing  rellections  and  prayers,  which 
were  fonnd  among  his  papers  after  his  decease, 
and  which  indicate  piety  of  a  very  fervent  and 
elevated  character. 

Besides  his  congregation  in  the  village  of  St. 
George's,  which  was  his  original  and  principal 
charge,  Mr.  Rodgers  also  had  under  his  care  a 
small  congregation,  near  the  village  of  Middletown, 
in  Delaware,  and  generally  called  "  the  Forest 
congregation."*  To  the  latter  he  devoted  one 
third  part  of  his  stated  labour;  which,  though  not 
attended  with  such  remarkable  and  extensive  bene- 
fit as  in  St.  George's,  was  yet  by  no  means  with- 
out success. 

It  is  interesting  to  observe  how  often  and  how 
remarkably  the  labours  of  one  servant  of  Christ 
are  connected  with  the  history  and  character  of 
another;  thus  evincing  that  every  occurrence, how- 
ever apparently  trivial,  is  a  part  of  the  great  system 
of  providential  arrangement,  and  is  not  without  its 
importance.  The  first  time,  after  entering  on  his 
pastoral  charge,  that  Mr.  Rodgers  assembled  the 
children  of  a  particular  district  in  his  congregation, 
to  catechize  them,  it  was  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Hugh 
Macwhnrter,  a  wealthy  and  respectable  planter  in 
Ills  neighbourhood.  The  children  were  so  nume- 
rous, that  a  room  of  ordinary  size  would  not  con- 
tain them  ;  and  it  was  thought  best  to  collect  them 
in  a  spacious  barn,  on  the  farm,  and  near  the  dwel- 
ling house  of  Mr.  Macwhorter.  Among  the  chil- 
dren catechized  on  this  occasion,  was  a  son  of  that 
gentleman,  afterwards  the  Reverend  Dr.  Alexander 

*  The  Forest  congregation  is  now  nearly  extinct. 


60  ST.  George's. 

Macwliorter,  of  Newark,  in  New  Jersey.*  He 
was  seven  years  younger  than  Mr.  Rodgers,  and 
at  the  primary  visitation  of  his  youthful  pastor, 
presented  himself  as  a  subject  of  ecclesiastical  in- 
spection and  instruction.  The  prudence,  the  good 
sense,  the  readiness  in  reply,  and  the  highly  pro- 
mising character  which  this  youih  exhibited,  first 
drew  the  attention,  and  afterwards  the  special  re- 
gard and  friendship  of  Mr.  Rodgers;  and  laid  the 
foundation  of  an  affectionate  union  between  them 
to  the  end  of  life.  On  the  one  hand,  Mr.  Rodgers 
noticed,  encouraged,  and  directed  young  Macwhor- 
ter;  and  on  the  other,  Mr.  Macwhorter  soon  gra- 
tified his  friend  and  pastor  by  exhibiting  those 
pledges  of  future  eminence  and  usefulness  which 
were  afterwards  so  honourably  redeemed.  They 
were  destined  to  reside  near  each  other,  and  to  act 
together,  in  many  of  the  most  important  aflfairs  of 
the  church,  for  more  than  forty  years. 

Those  wlio  are  acquainted  with  the  history  of 
American  ecclesiastical  affairs,  know  that  the  Pres- 
byterian church,  at  the  time  when  Mr.  Rodgers 

*  The  Rev.  Alexander  Macwhorter,  D.  D.  was  born  in 
the  county  of  Newcastle,  in  the  state  of  Delaware,  July 
26,  1734.  He  was  graduated  at  the  collegfe  of  New  Jersey, 
in  the  year  1757;  studied  thcologfy  at  Freehold,  under  the 
direction  of  tlie  Rev.  William  Tenncnt ;  was  ordained  to 
the  work  of  the  gospel  ministry,  and  installed  pastor  of  the 
church  in  Newark,  New  Jersey,  in  1750  ;  and  died  in  that 
town,  July  20,  1807,  in  the  scvcnty-tliird  year  of  his  age. 
Dr.  Macwhorter  was  one  of  the  most  able,  learned,  vene- 
rable, and  useful  ministers  in  the  American  church.  His 
pious  labours;  his  jjublic  spirit;  his  activity  in  all  the 
great  movements  in  the  religious  denomination  to  which 
he  belonged;  and  the  universal  confidence  which  he  com- 
manded, will  transmit  his  name  to  posterity  with  high 
honour. 


ST.  George's.  Q\ 

took  his  station  as  one  of  her  ministers,  was  divi- 
ded into  two  great  parties.  A  very  brief  account 
of  the  causes  and  influence  of  this  division,  will 
not  only,  it  is  presumed,  gratify  curiosity,  but  will 
also  throw  light  on  some  events  which  properly 
belong  to  this  memoir. 

From  the  origin  of  the  Presbyterian  cliurcli,  as 
an  organized  body,  in  this  country,  the  materials 
of  which  it  was  composed,  and  especially  its  cle- 
rical materials,  were,  in  a  consiclerable  degree, 
heterogeneous.  The  principal  constituent  parts 
were,  strict  Presbyterians,  from  Scotland  and  Ire- 
land; and  Congregalionalists,  from  South-Britain 
and  New  England.  The  former  were  desirous  of 
establishing  the  system  of  Presbyterianism  to 
which  they  had  been  accustomed  in  all  its  extent 
and  purity;  the  latter,  were  willing  to  bear  the 
name,  but  wished  for  many  abatements  and  modi- 
fications of  that  system.  The  Congregalionalists, 
and  those  who  sided  with  them,*  appear  to  have 
been,  generally,  more  ardent  in  their  piety  than  the 
strict  Presbyterians.  However  this  might  be,  it  is 
undoubtedly  a  fact,  that  they  urged  in  the  judica- 
tories of  the  church,  with  peculiar  zeal,  their 
wishes,  that  great  care  should  be  taken  respecting 
the  personal  piety  of  candidates  for  the  holy  mi- 
nistry ;  and  that  a  close  examination  on  experi- 
mental religion  should  always  make  a  part  of  trials 
for  licensure  and  ordination.  The  strict  Presby- 
terians, on  the  one  hand,  were  zealous  for  the 
Westminster  Confession  of  Faith,  Catechisms,  Di- 
rectory, Presbyierial  order,  and  Academical  learn- 

*  A  few  of  the  Scotch  and  Irish  and  their  descendants, 
took  this  side  from  the  first,  a.nd  more  alter  a  while;  par- 
ticularly the  Blairs,  the  Tennents,  Dr.  Finley,  Sec. 


62  ST.  George's. 

ing,  in  the  preacliers  of  the  gospel;  while  they 
appear  to  have  disliked  the  close  examirialion  con- 
tended for  in  regard  to  persona!  piety  ;  or,  at  least, 
to  have  disapproved  the  method  in  which  the  exa- 
mination was  conducted,  as  being  different  from 
any  thing  to  which  they  had  been  accustomed. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  Congregationalists,  pro- 
vided they  were  satisfied  on  the  score  of  personal 
piety,  did  not  set  so  high  a  value  on  human  learn- 
ing, or  require  so  much  of  it  as  indispensable,  in 
candidates  for  the  ministry,  as  their  opponents 
contended  for;  but  were  too  ready  to  make  abate- 
ments and  to  give  dispensations  as  to  this  point,  in 
violation  of  the  rules  of  presbyteries  and  synods. 

As  the  leading  objects  to  which  these  parties 
were  severally  attached,  were  reasonable  and  pro- 
per in  themselves,  so  each  had  influence  enough 
to  procure  the  adoption  of  its  favourite  measure  by 
the  Synod.*  In  1729,  in  consequence  of  an  over- 
ture drawn  up,  and  prosecuted  with  great  zeal,  the 
year  before,  by  the  Rev.  John  Thompson,  of  Lew- 
istown,  in  Delaware,  the  Synod  passed  what  was 
called  "  The  Adopting  Act."  This  Act  consisted 
of  a  public  authoritative  adoption  of  the  Westmin- 
ster Confession  of  Faith,  Catechisms,  &:c.,  as  the 
Confession  of  Faith  of  the  Church  ;  and  made  it 
necessary,  that  not  only  every  candidate,  but  also 
every  actual  mitjister  in  the  church,  should  be 
obliged,  by  subscription  or  otherwise,  coram  Pres- 
hytcrio,  to  acknowledge  these  instruments  respec- 

*  The  first  Synod  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Ame- 
rica, was  formed  in  1716,  and  was  called  the  Synod  of 
Philadclj)hia.  It  consis-ttd  of  four  Presbyteries,  viz:  the 
Presbytery  of  Philadelpiii;!,  the  Presbytery  of  Newcastle, 
the  Prctbytery  of  Snow  Hill,  and  the  Presbytery  of  Long 
Island. 


ST.  George's.  (53 

lively  as  the  confession  of  their  faitii.  This  Act, 
though  it  did  not  pass  without  nuich  oposilion,* 
appears  to  have  been  adopted  by  a  large  majority, 
and  was,  at  length,  peaceably  acquiesced  in  by  all. 

In  1734,  an  overture  was  brouglit  into  Synod, 
concerning  the  trials  of  candidates  for  the  minis- 
try ;  directing  that  "  all  candidates  for  the  ministry- 
be  examined  diligently  as  to  their  experience  of  a 
work  of  sanctifying  grace  on  their  hearts,  and  that 
none  be  admitted  who  are  not,  in  a  judgment  of 
charily,  serious  Christians."  This  overture  was 
adopted  unanimously,  but  became  a  source  of  great 
uneasiness  within  a  few  years  afterwards. 

These  two  Acts  embraced  the  favourite  objects 
of  each  party;  but  the  manner  of  executing  them 
gave  rise  to  the  principal  difficulty.  In  the  several 
Presbyteries,  according  as  the  one  party  or  tlie 
other  was  a  majority,  they  practised  pretty  much 
agreeably  to  their  own  views;  and  this  was  the 
source  of  much  contention  and  debate  when  the 
parties  met  in  Synod  :  each  charging  the  other, 
and  commonly  wiih  justice,  for  some  violation  iti 
the  several  Presbyteries,  of  the  orders  of  Synod. 

In  1738,  the  Synod  passed  an  Act  directing"  that 
young  men  be  first  examined,  respecting  their  lite- 
rature, by  a  commission  of  Synod,  and  obtain  a 
testimony  of  their  approbation  before  they  can  be 
taken  on  trial  by  any  Presbytery."  The  Presby- 
tery of  New  Brunswick  first  met  on  the  8th  of 
August,  in  this  year  V  and  immediately,  "  for  seve- 
ral weighty  and  sufficient  reasons,"  took  Mr.  Joha 

*  Tt  was  particularly  opposed  by  those  members  of  the 
Synod  who  had  come  from  England,  Wales,  and  the  New 
England  Colonics.  Mr.  Dickinson,  of  Elizabethtowii,  took 
the  lead  in  this  opposition,  and  appeared  as  a  writer  on 
the  subject.     He  was  answered  by  Mr.  Thompson. 


(54  ST.  George's. 

Rowland  on  trials,  contrary  to  the  above  Act,  and 
proceeded  to  license  him  in  September  following. 
Two  vacant  congregations  in  New  Jersey,  under 
the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  which 
had  given  them  leave  to  invite  any  regular  candi- 
date to  preach  for  them,  requested  Mr.  Rowland's 
services,  who,  having  obtained  the  consent  of  his 
own  Presbytery,  preached  for  them  one  Sabbath. 
The  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia  immediately  met, 
pro  re  nafa,  and  unanimously  declared  that  "  they 
could  not  accept  of  Mr.  Rowland  as  an  orderly  li- 
censed preacher,  nor  approve  of  his  preaching  in 
any  of  the  vacancies  within  their  bounds." 

In  1739,  the  Synod  declared  that  Mr.  Rowland 
could  not  be  allowed  as  a  regular  candidate.  Not- 
withstanding this,  however,  Mr,  William  Tennent, 
the  elder,  introduced  him  into  his  pulpit;  and 
when  some  of  his  congregation  complained  of  this 
act  to  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  Mr.  Ten- 
nent justified  his  conduct ;  disclaimed  the  authority 
of  Presbytery  in  the  case,  and  "  contemptuously 
withdrew.''  The  Presbytery  censured  his  con- 
duct as  "  irregular  and  disorderly."  This  took 
place  in  September,  1739.  In  the  month  of  Oc- 
tober following,  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick 
ordained  Mr.  Rowland;  and  he  continued  a  mem- 
ber of  that  Presbytery  until  the  month  of  Novem- 
ber, 1742,  when  he  was  dismissed  to  join  the 
Presbytery  of  Newcastle.  Every  thing  of  this 
kind  served,  of  course,  to  exasperate  feelings  pre- 
viously excited,  and  to  lay  a  train  of  combustible 
materials,  ready  to  be  kindled  into  a  flame  when- 
ever avi  occasion  occurred. 

While  things  were  in  this  state,  Mr.  Whitefield, 
in  1739,  paid  his  second  visit  to  America.  'I'he 
cxtetisive  and   glorious  revival  of  religion,  which 


ST.  George's.  55 

took  place  under  his  ministry,  and  that  of  his  cler- 
ical advocates  and  adherents,  is  well  known. 
Tlie  friends  of  this  revival  generally  coincided 
with  that  portion  of  the  Presbyterian  church, 
which  was  most  friendly  to  ardent  piety,  and  least 
zealous  for  strict  presbyterial  order,  and  literary 
qualifications  in  the  ministry.  While  the  strict 
Presbyterian  party,  perceiving  some  really  censu- 
rable irregularities  in  the  active  friends  and  pro- 
moters of  the  revival,  were  too  ready  to  pronounce 
the  whole  a  delusion.*  This  brought  on  the  crisis. 
Animosities  which  had  long  been  burning  in  se- 
cret, now  burst  into  a  flame.     The  Old  Side,  (as 

*  A  diversity  of  sentiment,  concerning-  the  character 
and  ministrations  of  Mr.  VViiitcfield,  arose,  about  the 
same  time  in  the  Congrcg^ational  churches  of  the  Eastern 
colonies.  Such  men  as  Dr.  Colman,  Mr.  Foxcroft,  Dr. 
Sevvall,  Mr.  Prince,  Mr.  Edwards,  and  a  number  more, 
who  were  the  glory  of  New  England,  though  they  repro- 
bated and  opposed  certain  extravagancies  which  they 
witnessed,  thought  it  their  duty  to  express  "their  full 
persuasion,  that  there  had  been  a  happy  and  remarkable 
revival  of  religion,  in  many  parts  of  the  land,  through  an 
uncommon  divine  influence."  While  Dr.  Chauncey,  and 
some  others  of  more  orthodox  character,  were  so  deeply 
impressed  with  the  circumstances  of  disorder  which  at- 
tended the  revival,  that  they  condemned  the  whole  work, 
as  mere  wild-fire  and  enthusiasm,  and  made  the  most  de- 
termined opposition  to  Mr.  Whitefield  and  his  adherents. 
President  Clap,  though  a  Calvinist,  and  a  friend  to  vital 
religion,  also  imbibed  a  strong  prejudice  against  the  la- 
bours of  Whitefield,  and  took  the  side  of  opposition.  The 
Legislature  of  Connecticut  passed  a  law,  about  this  time, 
proliibiting  itinerant  preachers  from  entering  parislies  in 
which  a  minister  was  settled,  unless  by  his  consent.  For 
violating  this  law,  by  preaching  to  a  congregation  in  New 
Haven,  the  Reverend  Doctor  Finlcy,  afterwards  President 
Finlcy,  was  arrested  by  the  civil  authority,  and  carried, 
as  a  vagrant,  out  of  the  colony. 

6 


QQ  ST.  George's. 

the  strict  Presbyterians  were  called,)  regarded  the 
New  Side,  or  New  Lights,  (as  ihe  others  were 
denominated,)  as  a  set  of  extravagant  and  ig^norant 
enthusiasts  :  while  the  New  Lights  considered  the 
men  of  the  Old  Side,  as  a  set  of  pharisaical  formal- 
ists. Undue  warmth  of  feeling  and  speech,  and 
improper  inferences,  were  admitted  on  both  sides. 
One  act  of  violence  led  to  another.  Until,  at 
length,  in  1741,  the  highest  judicatory  of  the 
church  was  rent  in  twain  ;  and  the  Synod  of  New 
York  was  set  up  in  a  sort  of  opposition  to  that  of 
Philadelphia.  Among  the  most  active  and  conspi- 
cuous members  of  the  former  were,  the  Tennents, 
the  Blairs,  Mr.  Dickinson,  Mr.  Pierson  of  Wood- 
bridge,  Dr.  Finley,  and  Mr.  Burr.  Among  the 
leaders  of  the  latter,  were  Messrs.  John  and  Sa- 
muel Thompson,  Dr.  Francis  Allison,  Mr.  Robert 
Cross,  and  several  others.* 

Li  fomenting  this  division,  there  is  some  reason 
to  believe,  that  rivalship  between  diflerent  literary 
institutions,  patronized  by  the  parties  respectively, 
was  not  without  its  influence.  This  rivalship  cer- 
tainly rose  very  high  after  the  separation,  and  did 
not  wholly  disappear  for  a  considerable  time  after 
the  re-union.  All  the  original  patrons  of  New 
Jersey  College  belonged  to  the  New  Side;  while 
their  opponents  declared  in  favour  of  the  celebrat- 

*  It  ought  to  be  noticed,  that  some  excellent  and  judi- 
cious ministers,  believing  both  sides  to  be  in  tlie  wrong, 
could  not  fully  agree  with  cither.  These  took  no  part  in 
the  controversy,  as  such;  were  sometimes  claimed  by 
both  parties;  and  took  that  standing  in  Presbytery  and 
Synod  which  was  most  convenient  from  local  circum- 
stances. And  even  some  of  those  who  were  ranked  by 
themselves,  as  well  as  by  others,  with  one  or  the  otiicr  of 
tlie  parties  respectively,  disapproved  of  much  that  they 
saw  in  both. 


ST.  George's.  Q7 

ed  academies  of  New  Loiulon  and  Newark,  under 
the  direction  of  Dr.  Allison,  and  Mr.  McDowell, 
and  the  College  and  Academy  of  Philadelphia. 

In  this  controversy  there  were  undoubtedly, 
faults  on  both  sides.  This,  indeed,  some  of  the 
most  zealous  actors  in  the  scene  were  candid 
enough  to  acknowledge,  after  union  was  restored : 
and  severely  censured  themselves.  The  Old  Side 
were  wrong  in  opposing  the  revival  of  religion  un- 
der the  ministry  of  Whitefield  and  his  friends; 
and  in  contending  against  examinations  on  personal 
piety  ;  while  the  New  Side  were  wrong  in  violating 
Presbyterial  order;  in  undervaluing  literary  quali- 
fications for  the  holy  ministry;  and  in  giving  coun- 
tenance to  some  real  extravagancies  which  attend- 
ed the  revival  of  religion. 

These  errors  were  afterwards  seen  and  lament- 
ed. The  parties  gradually  cooled.  Both  became 
sensible  that  they  had  acted  rashly  and  uncharita- 
bly. Both  felt  the  inconvenience,  as  well  as  the 
sin  of  division.  Congregations  were  divided. 
Two  places  of  worship,  and  two  ministers,  were 
established  in  places  where  there  was  not  support 
for  one.  The  members  of  one  Synod  were  exclud- 
ed from  the  pulpits  of  the  other;  and  this  was  the 
case  even  when  individuals  cordially  respected, 
and  wished  to  invite  each  other  to  an  interchange 
of  ministerial  services.  Still,  although  both  par- 
ties soon  became  heartily  sick  of  the  division,  the 
Synods  remained  divided  for  seventeen  years. 
The  first  overture  towards  a  union  appears  to  have 
been  made  by  the  Synod  of  New  York,  in  the 
year  1749.  But  nine  years  were  spent  in  negocia- 
tion.  At  length,  mutual  concessions  were  made  ; 
the  articles  of  luiion  in  detail  were  agreed  upon  ; 
and  the  Synods    were  happily  united,  under  the 


QQ  ST.  George's. 

title  of  "  the  Synod  of  New  York  and  Philadel- 
phia," in  the  year  1758. 

In  contemplating  this  controversy  and  division, 
at  the  present  period,  when  the  lapse  of  more  than 
half  a  century  has  allayed  the  heat,  and  removed 
the  prejudices,  which  then  agitated  and  rent  the 
church ;  although  we  see  much  to  lament  and  to 
reprobate,  we  see  also  something  to  inspire  thank- 
fulness. The  King  of  Zion  brings  good  out  of 
evil.  One  of  these  parties  was  undoubtedly  made 
the  means  of  preserving  the  vital  piety,  and  the 
other,  the  learning  and  order  of  our  church:  bless- 
ings worth  contentling  for,  and  seldom  maintained 
without  many  struggles.  May  they  increase,  and 
be  perpetual ! 

Mr.  Rodgers  was  ordained  in  1749,  as  before 
stated,  when  the  division  had  existed  for  a  number 
of  years,  and  when  the  heat  of  separation  had,  in 
some  degree,  abated.  He  took  his  stand,  with  de- 
cision, on  the  New  Side,  in  company  with  the 
Blairs,  the  Finleys,  the  Tennents,  and  others,  his 
intimate  friends.  And  although  he  never  approved 
of  violence,  and  never  countenanced  extravagance 
or  disorder;  though  he  cultivated  sincere  and  af- 
fectionate friendship  with  individuals  of  the  other 
party;  and  freely  acknowledged  the  errors  of  some 
with  whom  he  commonly  acted;  yet  he  maintain- 
ed the  character  of  a  staunch  New  Side  man,  as 
long  as  the  distinction  lasted.  He  was  of  that 
pari  of  the  Presbytery  of  Newcastle,  which  met 
with,  and  was  always  considered  as  a  constituent 
branch  of,  the  Synod  of  New  York.  He  rejoiced, 
however,  in  the  union,  which  took  place  when  he 
had  been  about  nine  years  in  the  ministry;  and 


ST.  George's.  ()9 

was  ever  esteemed  a  lover,  and,  as  far  as  possible, 
without  a  dereliction  of  principle,  a  promoter,  of 
peace. 

It  will  be  seen  that  Mr.  Rodgers  entered  on  the 
pastoral  office  at  a  very  early  period  of  life.  But 
though  his  age  and  his  appearance  were  extremely 
youthful ;  yet  the  uncommon  prudence  and  dig- 
nity of  his  manners  in  private  intercourse ;  the 
devoted  engagedncss  in  the  duties  of  his  office, 
which  he  manifested  from  the  first;  the  fervent 
piety  of  his  discourses;  and  the  animated,  bold, 
and  commanding  style  of  his  address  in  the  pulpit, 
were  above  his  years.  It  was  long  ago  said,  by 
an  illustrious  heathen,  Non  potest  in  eo  succus  esse 
diuturnus,  quod  nimis  celeriter,  maturitatem  est 
asser.utiis ;*  and  by  another.  Nidlus  est  et  diutur- 
nus el  prxcox  fructus:\  the  spirit  of  both  which 
maxims  is  conveyed  in  the  English  proverb,  Soon 
ripe,  soon  rotten.  This  proverb  was  actually  ap- 
plied to  Mr.  Rodgers,  soon  after  his  settlement  at 
St.  George's,  by  a  distinguished  layman,  vvho 
happened  to  hear  one  of  the  most  judicious,  eleva- 
ted, and  forcible  specimens  of  his  eloquence. — But 
happily  the  calculation  was  erroneous.  His  fruit 
did  not  early  decay,  neither  did  his  leaf  prematurely 
wither.  For  more  than  sixty  years,  after  this  pre- 
diction, he  was  destined  lo  adorn  and  to  bless  the 
garden  of  God. 

Of  the  general  acceptance  and  usefulness  of  Mr. 
Rodgers'  ministry  at  St,  George's,  the  following 
letter,  from  the  Reverend  Mr.  Latta,  of  Newcas- 
tle, will  give  a  satisfactory  view.  It  was  originally 
communicated,  indeed,  by  the  writer,  under  the  ex- 
pectation that  the    materials   which    it   furnished 

*  Cicero.  t   Curtius. 


70  ST.  George's. 

would  be  exhibited  in  another  form :  but  it  is  so 
judicious  and  comprehensive,  that  the  reader  will, 
no  doubt,  prefer  seeing  it  without  alteration. 

"  Christiana  Village,  10th  July,  1811. 
"  Rev.  and  dear  Brother, 

"  Agreeably  to  your  request,  I  have  made  in- 
quiry of  Mr.  Vandegrift  and  others,  in  the  congre- 
gation of  St.  George's,  with  a  view  to  collect  some 
materials  for  your  proposed  account  of  the  life  and 
character  of  your  late  excellent  colleague,  the  Rev. 
Doctor  Rodgers.  In  consequence  of  the  great 
lapse  of  time  since  the  doctor's  settlement  in  that 
congregation,  I  have  been  able  to  collect  but  very 
few  particulars.  The  following,  though  much  less 
than  I  could  wish,  must  be  accepted  as  the  result 
of  my  inquiries. 

"  Dr.  Rodgers  settled  in  the  congregation  of  St. 
George's  about  the  year  1748,  and  continued  with 
them  sixteen  years.  Antecedently  to  his  settle- 
ment with  them,  a  revival  of  religion  had  taken 
place  in  the  congregation,  through  the  instrumen- 
tality of  the  preaching  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Robinson, 
and  the  celebrated  Whitefield.  Mr.  Robinson  was 
their  first  pastor,  and  the  immediate  predecessor 
of  Dr.  Rodgers.  This  revival  considerably  in- 
creased during  the  Doctor's  pastoral  labours.  His 
audiences  were  generally  crowded,  solemn,  and 
attentive.  In  consequence  of  the  number  attend- 
ing public  worship,  it  became  necessary  to  make 
a  considerable  addition  to  their  house  of  worship, 
and  even  after  the  building  was  enlarged,  the  aisles, 
the  doors,  and  even  the  windows,  were  frequently 
filled  with  auditors.  Such  was  the  zealous,  ani- 
mated, and  popular  character  of  the  Doctor's 
preaching,  that  he  drew  people  of  all  denomina- 


ST.  George's.  7  J 

tions  to  liear  liim;  and,  ultimately,  his  popularity 
so  far  prevailed,  that  an  Episcopal  church  which 
stood  near  the  village  of  St.  George's,  was  de- 
serted; the  congregation  became  extinct;  and  the 
scite  of  their  house  of  worship  is  now  only  known 
by  the  monuments  of  the  dead.  Several  who  were 
Episcopalians  when  the  Doctor  settled  at  St. 
George's,  connected  themselves  with  his  church; 
and  tlieir  descendants  are  Presbyterians,  and  be- 
long to  that  church,  to  the  present  day.  This  ex- 
cellent man  preached,  not  only  at  St.  George's, 
but  also  a  part,  perhaps  one-third  of  his  time,  at 
what  was  called  the  Forest  Church,  near  Middle- 
town. 

"  Dr.  Rodgers  was  an  animated  and  fervent 
preacher.  He  seldom  preached  without  weeping 
himself;  and  generally  melted  his  audience  into 
tears.  But  he  was  more  than  a  good  preacher;  he 
was  a  zealous,  vigilant,  and  faithful  pastor.  He 
regularly,  besides  holding  annual  district  examina- 
tions on  religious  subjects,  paid  a  pastoral  visit, 
yearly,  to  every  family  in  his  congregation.  On 
these  occasions  he  called  upon  every  member  of 
the  family  to  repeat  a  part  of  the  Assembly's  cate- 
chism; asked  them  a  number  of  extempore  ques- 
tions on  doctrinal  and  practical  subjects  in  religion; 
prayed  with  them ;  and  gave  a  warm  and  pathetic 
exhortation.  Through  a  blessing,  most  probably 
upon  these  exercises,  there  was  then  at  least  the 
form  of  religion  in  almost  every  family.  In  them 
the  morning  and  evening  sacrifices  of  prayer  were 
regularly  otiered.  Every  house,  with  very  few 
exceptions,  appeared  to  be  a  Bethel,  a  house  of 
God.  At  the  present  time,  in  that  vicinity,  not 
one  family,  perhaps,  in  twenty,  exhibits  even  the 
form  of  religion  in  their  house.     The  Doctor  was 


•^2  "^T*  George's. 

particular  too,  on  all  occasions,  in  administering 
private  rebukes  to  the  disorderly,  and  especially 
to  the  intemperate;  and  generally,  even  in  his 
common  visits  of  friendship  or  business,  it  was 
his  custom  to  speak  a  word  in  season,  which  he 
hoped  might  prove  a  savour  of  life  to  those  who 
heard  it. 

"In  1751,  Dr.  Rodgers  circulated  a  subscrip- 
tion paper  through  his  congregations,  with  a  view 
to  raising  a  permanent  fund  for  their  use.  That  it 
might  accumulate,  he  would  not,  for  several  years, 
receive  the  interest  of  this  fund,  though  it  was 
raised  principally  with  a  view  that  the  stated  pas- 
tor might  enjoy  the  benefit  of  the  annual  proceeds. 
To  this  fund,  humanly  speaking,  the  congregation 
of  St.  George's  now  owe  the  stated  preaching  of 
the  gospel  among  them;  for  without  it  they  could 
not  pay  their  proportion  for  the  support  of  a  pas- 
tor, for  even  a  small  part  of  his  ministerial  labours. 
Dr.  Rodgers,  therefore,  though  long  since  remov- 
ed from  them,  and  now  dead,  may  be  said  to  be 
preaching  to  that  people ;  not  only  by  his  many 
pious,  pathetic  instructions;  but  also  by  laying  up 
in  store  the  means  of  supporting  a  preacher  to 
break  to  them  the  bread  of  life.  Wiiat  a  striking 
proof  is  this  of  the  propriety,  (and  what  an  en- 
couragenient  to  those  who  are  thus  engaged,)  of 
adopting  and  pursuing  measures  which  are  calcu- 
lated to  be  permanently  useful,  and  especially  to 
the  church !  How  pleasing  the  thought,  that  even 
after  they  are  dead,  and  their  bodies,  which  had 
been  engaged  in  the  important  object,  have  mould- 
ered into  dust,  the  seed  which  they  had  sown  will 
be  bringing  I'orth  abundant  fruit  in  the  salvation  of 
souls,  and  to  the  glory  of  God ! 

"  So  much  was  Dr.  Rodgers  respected  and  be- 


ST.  George's.  73 

loved  by  tlie  people  of  St.  George's,  that  tliey 
parted  with  him  with  the  utmost  reluctance,  and 
the  deepest  sorrow.  Even  after  an  application 
liad  been  made  to  the  Presbytery  for  the  dissolu- 
tion of  the  pastoral  relation  subsisting  between  him 
and  them,  a  reference  was  made  of  the  subject  to 
the  Synod,  with  a  view  to  arrest  the  proceedings, 
and  continue  the  relation.  After  the  dissolution 
had  taken  place,  and  the  day  arrived  for  the  Doc- 
tor to  preach  his  farewell  sermon,  the  moment  he 
rose  in  the  pulpit,  a  paroxysm  of  grief  seized 
every  heart,  and  the  swollen  tear  stood  in  every 
eye.  The  impression  was  felt  by  every  indivi- 
dual, that  although  they  were  about  to  hear  him 
preach,  he  was  no  longer  their  pastor,  and  they 
should  never  more  hear  him  as  such;  and  they 
sorrowed  most  of  all,  because  they  should  see  his 
face  as  their  preacher  no  more.  'J'he  solemnity 
of  the  silence  which  generally  prevailed  during  the 
preaching  of  this  discourse,  was  only  exceeded  by 
the  audible  expressions  of  bitter  lamentation,  which 
now  and  then  issued  from  every  quarter  of  the 
church.  Every  head  was  bowed  down  with  grief, 
and  every  heart  bled  with  sorrow. 

"  After  Dr.  Rodgers  left  St.  George's,  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Spencer,  a  zealous  and  animated  preacher, 
settled  there,  and  continued  four  years.  During 
his  continuance,  the  congregation  was  nearly  as 
large  and  prosperous  as  it  was  whilst  Dr.  Rodgers 
was  their  pastor.  The  first  symptom  of  their  de- 
cline was  the  departure  of  some  of  the  people 
from    the  cliurch   before    the   afternoon   service.* 

*  This  is  ncitlier  a  new  nor  a  solitary  fact.  Perhaps 
there  is  no  symptom  of  decline  in  religion  more  common 
or  more  infallible.  It  may  be  safely  asserted,  that  no  in- 
dividual, in  whom  the  religious  principle  was  strong  and 


•74  ST.  George's. 

When  Dr.  Rodgers  preached  there,  none  of  ihe 
people  thought  of  withdrawing  till  the  whole  ser- 
vice of  the  day  was  concluded.  In  consequence 
of  this  disposition  in  the  people,  to  leave  the  church 
between  sermons,  increasing,  they  have  had  gene- 
rally, for  a  long  time,  but  one  sermon  preached  on 
the  Sabbath. 

"  Upon  Mr.  Spencer's  leaving  the  congregation 
of  St.  George's,  it  began  rapidly  to  decline,  and 
has  ever  since  continued  to  decline,  till  within 
these  two  years,  during  which  time  it  has  some- 
what revived,  in  consequence  of  enjoying  a  part 
of  the  stated  ministerial  labours  of  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Bell,  who  is  a  warm  and  animated  preacher. 

"  Thus  you  have  ascertained  that  Doctor  Rod- 
gers was  much  respected  by  the  congregation  of 
St.  George's  ;  that  his  labours  were  greatly  blessed 
to  them;  and  that  by  his  removal  from  them  they 
sustained  a  severe  loss,  and  experienced  a  shock 
from  which  they  have  never  yet  recovered,  and 
perhaps  never  will  recover,  till  the  general  effusion 
of  the  Spirit  take  place,  when  "the  earth  shall  be 
full  of  the  knowledge  of  the  Lord,  as  the  waters 
cover  the  sea." 

"  Your  very  respectful  and  affectionate  brother 
in  the  gospel,  John  E.  Latta. 

"  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Miller:' 

lively,  ever  habitually  neglected  a  second  service  on  the 
Lord's  day,  when  it  was  in  his  power  to  attend  upon  it;  " 
and  that  church  in  which  there  is  a  prevailing  negligence 
of  the  public  worship  of  God  on  Sabbath  afternoons,  may, 
with  confidence,  be  pronounced  to  be  languid  and  declin- 
ing in  it3  spiritual  condition.  Tlic  excellent  minister, 
whose  memory  we  are  endeavouring  to  honour,  whenever 
he  remarked  a  circumstance  of  this  kind,  as  existing  in 
any  church,  always  lamented  over  it,  as  a  symptom  highly 
unfavourable  and  distressing  in  its  indications. 


ST.  George's.  75 

On  ihe  19lh  day  of  September,  1752,  between 
three  and  four  years  after  his  settlement  at  St. 
George's,  Mr.  Rodgers  formed  a  matrimonial  con- 
nexion with  Miss  Elizabeth  Bayard,  the  ekiest 
daughter  of  Colonel  Peter  Bayard,  of  Cecil  county, 
in  Maryland.  In  his  alliance  with  that  lady,  and 
her  family,  which  was  one  of  the  most  respectable 
for  piely,  wealth,  and  inlluence,  in  that  part  of  the 
then  American  colonies,  he  found  much  happiness. 
She  was  a  woman  of  excellent  understanding,  of 
eminent  piety  and  prudence,  and  proved  truly  a 
"  help  meet"  for  him.  By  her  he  had  four  chil- 
dren ;  two  sons  and  two  daughters.  Of  these,  one 
son  and  one  daughter  died  in  infancy  ;  the  others 
yet  survive.* 

In  the  year  1753,  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Samuel  Da- 
vies,  of  Virginia,  and  Gilbert  Tennent,  of  Phila- 
delphia, were  appointed  by  the  Synod  of  New 
York,  at  the  request  of  the  Trustees  of  New  Jer- 
sey college,  to  visit  Great  Britain,  for  the  purpose 
of  soliciting  donations  for  the  support  of  that  col- 
lege. During  their  absence,  of  more  than  a  year, 
on  this  mission,  their  respective  pulpits  were  sup- 
plied by  order  of  the  Synod.  Mr.  Rodgers  was 
sent,  by  that  body,  in  the  spring  of  1754,  to  sup- 
ply the  pulpit  of  Mr.  Davies.  He  remained  in 
Virginia  several  months,  preaching  with  great  as- 
siduity and  acceptance.  Recollecting  the  unplea- 
sant treatment  which  he  had  received  from  the 
government  of  that  colony,  six  years  before,  he 
was   not    without  apprehensions   of  having  some 

*  Dr.  John  R.  B.  Rodgers,  an  eminent  physician  of  New 
York,  and  for  a  number  of  years  one  of  the  medical  pro- 
fessors of  Columbia  College  ;  and  Mrs.  Susannah  Tennent, 
relict  of  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  William  M.  Tennent,  of  Abing- 
ton,  Pennsylvania. 


T'^  ST.  George's. 

difficulty,  of  a  troublesome,  if  not  of  an  insur- 
mountable kiHd,  again  thrown  in  his  way.  In 
this,  however,  he  was  agreeably  disappointed.  He 
was  permitted  to  fulfil  his  mission  without  any  se- 
rious molestation.  There  were,  indeed,  threats  of 
prosecution  thrown  out  from  pretty  respectable 
quarters,  and  in  a  tone  of  apparent  determination, 
but  they  w^ere  never  executed.  Presbyterianism, 
by  this  time,  had  become  better  known,  and  more 
respected.  Nor  was  there  wanting  an  influence  in 
its  favour,  in  the  person  of  the  chief  magistrate  him- 
self. The  Governor's  chair  was  then  filled  by 
Mr.  Dinwiddle,  a  Scotch  gentleman,  who  had  been 
bred  a  Presbyterian,  and  who  had  married  a  sister 
of  tile  Rev.  Mr.  McCulloch,  the  celebrated  minis- 
ter of  the  church  of  Cambuslang,  in  Scotland. 
By  him  Mr.  Rodgers  was  treated  with  marked 
politeness,  as  he  also  was  by  several  other  persons 
of  distinction  in  the  colony.  After  a  pleasant  and 
profitable  tour,  he  returned  about  the  middle  of  the 
summer  to  St.  George's. 

Mr.  Rodgers'  character  as  a  preacher  and  pastor 
was  soon  so  extensively  known,  and  so  highly 
esteemed,  that  toward  the  close  of  the  same  year, 
(1754,)  he  received  a  very  urgent  and  affectionate 
invitation  from  the  church  in  New  York,  to  pay  it 
a  visit,  with  a  view  to  settlement.  That  church 
had  become  recently  vacant,  by  the  removal  of  Dr. 
Pemberton  and  Mr.  Gumming,  its  collegiate  pas- 
tors; and  was  in  a  state  of  unhappy  disunion  and 
ferment.  Its  leading  members  entertained  a  hope 
that  the  popularity  of  Mr.  Rodgers  might  be  the 
means  of  healing  their  divisions,  and  restoring 
comfort  to  their  church.  Considering  that  he  had 
never,  at  that  time,  been  in  New  York,  and  was, 
personally,  an  entire  stranger  to  all  the  members 


ST.  George's.  77 

of  the  church  there,  this  invitation  undoubtedly 
carried  with  it  a  high  testimony  of  respect.  But 
feeling  himself  happy  with  an  affectionate  people; 
animated  with  his  prospects  of  usefulness  among 
them;  and  unwilling  to  exchange  these  for  an 
experiment  of  doubtful  issue,  in  a  strange  place,  he 
sent  a  negative  answer  to  the  invitation  by  the 
commissioner  who  delivered  it. 

While  Mr.  Rodgers  was  settled  at  St.  George's, 
he  not  only  served  with  fidelity  the  people  of  his 
own  immediate  charge;  but  such  was  his  zeal  for 
the  advancement  of  his  Master's  cause,  and  the 
salvation  of  souls,  that  he  often  visited  those  vacant 
congregations,  or  smaller  settlements,  which  were 
destitute  of  stated  ordinances,  and  preached  to 
them,  with  much  affection  and  indefatigable  labour. 
Among  other  places  of  this  description,  he  often 
preached,  and  administered  the  sacraments  among 
a  large  body  of  Presbyterians  who  were  settled  in 
Queen  Anne's  county,  on  the  eastern  shore  of 
Maryland.  In  this  neighbourhood  his  ministry 
was  attended  with  remarkable  success.  On  one 
occasion,  more  particularly,  when  he  went  to 
administer  the  Lord's  Supper  to  the  church  there, 
a  scene  of  more  than  ordinary  interest  was  exhi- 
bited. Besides  a  large  number  of  others  admitted 
to  full  communion  in  the  church  at  the  same  time, 
who  had  been  baptized  in  their  infancy,  there  were 
twenty-nine  adults,  on  one  day,  publicly  baptized. 
The  greater  part,  if  not  all  these  persons,  had  been 
educated  in  connexion  with  the  society  of  Friends  ; 
and  were  awakened,  and  brought,  as  was  hoped, 
to  embrace  the  gospel  by  the  instrumentality  of 
his  ministry.  He  often  spoke  of  that  day  as 
among  the  most  gratifying  and  animated  of  his 
life. 


"78  ST,  George's. 

In  1762,  Mr.  Rodger?  was  chosen  by  the  Synod 
of  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  to  go  on  a  mission 
to  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  to  solicit  benefactions 
toward  the  establishment  of  a  "  fund  for  the  relief 
of  poor  and  distressed  Presbyterian  ministers,  their 
widows  and  children."  A  variety  of  considera- 
tions rendered  this  mission  a  very  desirable  one; 
and  he  certainly  would  have  accepted  the  appoint- 
ment, had  not  the  situation  of  his  family  rendered 
impossible  so  long  an  absence  from  home,  as  would 
have  been  necessary  to  accomplish  its  purpose. 
The  Rev.  Charles  Beatty,*  another  minister  of 
eminence  in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  was  after- 
wards appointed  to  the  same  mission  in  the  place 
of  Mr.  Rodgers,  and  fulfilled  it,  to  the  great  advan- 

*  The  Rev.  Charles  Beatty  was  a  native  of  Ireland.  He 
obtained  a  pretty  accurate  classical  education  in  his  own 
country ;  but  his  circumstances  being  narrow,  he  migra- 
ted to  America,  and  employed  several  of  the  f:rst  years  of 
his  residence  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic  in  the  business  of 
a  pedlar.  In  the  pursuit  of  this  vocation,  he  halted,  one 
day,  at  the  "Log  College,"  on  the  Neshaminy,  then  under 
the  care  of  the  Rev.  William  Tennent,  the  elder.  The 
pedlar,  to  Mr.  Tennent's  surprise,  addressed  him  in  cor- 
rect Latin,  and  appeared  to  be  familiar  with  that  language. 
After  much  conversation,  in  which  Mr.  Beatty  manifested 
fervent  piety,  and  considerable  religious  knowledge,  as 
well  as  a  good  education  in  other  respects,  Mr.  Tennent 
addressed  him  thus:  "You  must  quit  your  present  em- 
ployment. Go  and  sell  the  contents  of  your  pack,  and 
return  immediately,  and  study  with  me.  It  will  be  a  sin 
for  you  to  continue  a  pedlar,  when  you  may  be  so  much 
more  useful  in  another  profession."  He  accepted  Mr. 
Tennent's  offer;  returned  to  Neshaminy ;  completed  there 
his  academical  and  theological  studies;  and  in  due  time 
became  an  eminent  minister.  He  died  in  Barbadoes, 
whither  he  had  gone  to  solicit  benefactions  for  the  college 
of  New  Jersey,  about  the  time  of  Mr.  Rodgers'  removal 
to  New  York. 


ST.  George's.  79 

tage   of  the  fund,  and   to   the  satisfaction   of  the 
Synod. 

It  is  often  said  of  the  servants  of  God,  tliat  tliey 
are  immortal  till  their  work  is  done.  And  it  is,  at 
once,  both  pleasant  and  profitable  to  remark  how 
often  his  proleclinfj  power  is  manifested  in  averting 
danger,  and  in  prolonging  their  lives.  The  favonr 
of  a  gracious  Providence  was,  on  various  occasions, 
as  conspicuously  displayed  in  [)reserving  Mr.  Rod- 
gers'  life,  as  in  blessing  his  laliours.  Of  this  fact, 
one  instance,  among  many,  shall  suffice.  Within 
the  bounds  of  his  congregation,  and  near  the  place 
of  his  residence,  there  lived  an  unhappy  man,  of 
the  name  of  Marsh,  who,  borne  down  by  domestic 
affliction,  and  besotted  by  habitual  intemperance, 
liad  become  weary  of  life.  Unwilling  to  be  guilty 
of  suicide,  which  he  supposed  would  be  an  unpar- 
donable sin,  as  it  might  aflord  no  time  for  repen- 
tance, he  resolved  to  commit  murder  on  some 
other  person,  that  his  own  life  might  be  taken  by 
the  hand  of  public  justice.  And,  fearing  that,  if 
he  murdered  an  obscure  person,  whose  loss  would 
affect  the  public  mind  in  a  comparatively  small 
degree,  he  might  be  pardoned,  and  thus  fail  of 
attaining  his  object,  he  determined  to  select  fortius 
horrid  purpose  no  other  than  his  minister,  whom 
he  knew  to  be  universally  beloved,  and  whose  im- 
portance in  public  sentiment,  he  was  aware  would 
produce  an  overwhelming  weight  of  abhorrence 
and  indignation  against  his  murderer.  Accordingly 
the  miserable  wretch  made  every  preparation  for 
executing  his  nefarious  purpose.  He  watched  the 
motions  of  JMr.  Rodgers,  with  a  loaded  musket,  day 
after  day,  for  a  considerable  time,  and  eagerly 
sought  for  a  favourable  opportunity  to  destroy  his 
life.     He  waylaid  him  when  he  rode  abroad.     He 


go  ST.  George's. 

hovered  about  his  door,  at  intervals,  by  day  and 
night.  But  something  always  occurred  to  carry 
the  object  of  his  pursuit  in  a  difTerent  direction 
from  that  which  was  expected,  and  thus  to  avert 
the  intended  mischief.  The  v/ife  of  Marsh  first 
revealed  to  Mr.  Rodgers  the  murderous  purposes 
of  her  husband ;  and  in  consequence  of  this  dis- 
closure, the  infatuated  man  was  summoned  before 
a  neitihbouring  justice,  and  bound  over  to  his  good 
behaviour  for  a  limited  time.  Mr.  Rodgers  him- 
self appeared  before  the  magistrate,  and,  by  his 
zealous  intercession,  prevented  his  imprisonment. 
This  generosity,  however,  on  the  part  of  his  in- 
tended victim,  produced  no  favourable  effect  on  the 
mind  of  the  unhappy  man.  He  still  sought,  with 
most  ingenious  contrivance,  some  opportunity  to 
execute  his  design  ;  hut  was  still  providentially 
prevented.  At  length,  wearied  with  unsuccessful 
attempts,  and  becoming  altogether  desperate,  the 
abandoned  mortal,  on  a  certain  night,  when  watch- 
ing within  a  few  feet  of  Mr.  Rodgers*  door,  turned 
against  himself  the  fatal  weapon  which  he  had 
prepared  for  his  minister,  and  perished  by  his  own 
hand ! 

On  the20lli  day  of  January,  1763,  Mr.  Rodgers 
was  deprived,  by  death,  of  his  wife,  with  whom 
he  had  lived,  in  the  greatest  happiness,  for  more 
than  ten  years.  Of  this  bereavement  he  often 
spoke,  to  the  end  of  life,  with  much  tenderness, 
as  the  sorest  and  most  distressing  that  he  ever  ex- 
perienced :  and  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  he 
kept  the  anniversary  of  her  decease,  as  a  day  of 
special  prayer,  as  long  as  he  lived.  After  living 
a  widower  more  than  a  year  and  a  half,  he  formed 
a  second  matrimonial  connexion,  on  the  15th  day 
of  August,   1764,   with   Mrs.    Mary   Grant,  the 


ST.  George's.  81 

widow  of  Mr.  William  Grant,  an  eminent  mer- 
chant of  Philailelpiiia,  and  equally  eminent  for  the 
fervour  of  his  piety.  Mr.  Kodgers'  connexion 
with  this  lady  proved  no  less  happy  than  that  with 
the  companion  of  his  youth.  She  was  truly  a 
blessing  to  him  to  the  end  of  life,  and  survived 
him  about  ten  months.  Her  great  firmness  of 
mind ;  her  remarkable  prudence ;  her  polished 
and  dignified  manners ;  her  singular  sweetness 
and  evenness  of  temper,  joined  with  fervent  piety, 
endeared  her  to  all  that  had  the  happiness  of  her 
acquaintance,  and  rendered  her  an  excellent  model 
for  the  wife  of  a  clergyman.* 

Mr.  Rodgers,  at  an  early  period  of  his  public 
life,  had  received  a  deep  impression,  that  the  wife 
of  a  minister  of  the  gospel  ought  to  be  such  a 
person  as  would  prove  a  counsellor  and  aid  in  his 
official  character,  as  well  as  in  his  private  capacity. 
He  believed,  that,  as  an  ambassador  of  Christ 
ought  to  have  in  view  the  usefulness  of  his  minis- 
try, and  the  honour  of  his  Master,  in  every  thing 
else,  so  also  in  his  marriage.     He  was,  therefore, 

*  This  lady,  whose  family  name  was  Antrobos,  was  a 
native  of  Manclicster,  in  England.  Her  father  was  one  of 
the  colonists  who  came  over  to  Georgia,  with  General 
Ogletliorpe,  in  the  year  1733,  when  she  was  about  eight 
years  of  age.  It  is  remarkable  that  both  her  husbands, 
as  well  as  herself,  were  particular  friends,  and  spiritual 
children,  of  Mr.  VVhitcfield.  By  Mr.  Grant,  she  had  se- 
veral cliildren,  one  of  whom  was  the  second  wife  of  Col. 
John  Bayard,  late  of  New  Brunswick,  in  New  Jersey. 
By  Dr.  Kodgers  she  had  one  child,  a  daughter,  who  died 
a  number  of  years  before  her  parents.  Mrs.  Rodgers, 
afler  adorning  her  Cliristian  profession,  tlirough  the 
greater  part  of  a  century,  was  translated  to  a  better  world, 
on  the  16th  day  of  March,  1812,  in  the  eighty -eighth  year 
of  her  age. 

7 


82  ST.  George's. 

uniform  anil  pointed  in  his  advice  to  young  minis- 
ters, not  only  to  seek,  pious  wives,  but  also  to  seek 
such  as  by  their  good  sense,  prudence,  and  amia- 
bleness  of  natural  temper,  might  win  the  hearts  of 
their  parishioners,  form  an  additional  medium  of 
intercourse  and  attachment  between  them,  and 
prove  examples  to  the  flock.  He  often  remarked, 
that  no  man  could  calculate  the  importance  of  such 
a  companion  to  the  usefulness,  as  well  as"  to  llie 
comfort  of  his  ministry,  until  he  had  made  the  ex- 
periment. His  own  conduct  was  most  happily,  in 
perfect  accordance  with  his  advice ;  and  the  bless- 
ings, of  which  he  often  spoke,  as  resulting  from  a 
wise  choice,  were  in  his  own  case,  no  less  happily 
realized. 

In  the  month  of  April,  1765,  Mr.  Rodgers  was 
elected  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  College  of  New 
Jersey.  It  was  not  wonderful  that  his  public 
spirit,  his  zeal  for  the  promotion  of  useful  know- 
ledge, and  his  devoted  attachment  to  the  interests 
of  evangelical  truth,  should  have  pointed  him  out 
thus  early  as  one  of  the  governors  of  an  institution, 
consecrated  by  its  venerable  founders  as  a  nursery 
for  the  Church.  He  entered  on  tlie  duties  of 
this  appointment  with  cordiality;  peiforniing  them 
with  fidelity  and  diligence;  and  remained  one  of 
the  most  active  and  punctual  of  the  whole  Board, 
until  within  two  or  three  years  of  his  death ;  when, 
witli  the  same  disinterested  and  noble  spirit  which 
had  long  governed  him,  he  resigned  the  office ; 
assigning  as  his  only  reason,  that  he  could  no  lon- 
ger, as  usual,  discharge  its  duties  ;  and  soliciting 
the  appointment  of  a  more  youthful  and  active 
member  in  his  place. 

But  while  the  zeal  and  public  spirit  of  Mr. 
Rodgers  were  directed  to  objects  of  various  kinds, 


ST.  George's.  §3 

abroad  as  well  as  at  home;  and  while,  in  every 
sphere  in  which  he  moved,  his  piety  and  dili- 
gence were  conspicuous ;  he  shone  with  peculiar 
lustre  as  a  minister  of  Christ,  and  in  discharging 
all  the  diversified,  arduous,  and  interesting  duties 
of  a  Christian  Bishop.  His  family  visitations; 
his  incessant  attention  to  the  catechizing  and  other 
instruction  of  the  youth;  and  his  unwearied  vigi- 
lance in  watching  over  ihe  interests  of  the  flock 
of  which  he  had  been  made  overseer,  have  been 
already  mentioned.  It  is  also  worthy  of  notice, 
that  his  more  public  services  were  not  confined  to 
the  pulpit  or  the  Sabbath.  Whenever  his  health 
and  the  weather  permitted,  he  was  accustomed  to 
appoint,  from  time  to  time,  to  preach  on  week 
days  in  the  houses  of  the  sick,  the  infirm,  or  the 
aged;  and  thus  while  he  went  as  a  messenger  of 
consolation  to  those  who  would  not  have  been 
otherwise  able  to  attend  on  his  ministry,  he  car- 
ried the  glad  tidings  of  salvation  to  every  corner 
within  his  reach,  and  to  multitudes  who  had  no 
disposition  to  seek  them.  lie  performed  evan- 
gelical services  of  this  kind,  in  private  houses,  so 
frequently,  that  almost  every  habitation  in  his 
parish  had  been  more  than  once,  and  a  number  of 
them  many  times,  employed  in  the  solemnities  of 
public  worship. 

It  is  hardly  necessary  to  say,  that  a  minister 
thus  ardent,  unwearied,  and  affectionate  in  all  his 
pastoral  duties,  was  highly  popular  in  the  neigh- 
bouring parishes,  as  well  as  his  own.  So  great 
indeed,  was  this  popularity,  that  it  became,  indi- 
rectly, the  cause  of  no  inconsiderable  evil.  Seve- 
ral of  the  adjacent  congregations  becoming  vacant, 
by  tlie  deatii  or  removal  of  their  ministers,  while 
Mr.  Rodgers  resided  at  St.  George's,  so  strong 


34  ST.  George's. 

was  the  desire  of  all  the  members  of  those  congre- 
gations who  could  travel  so  far,  to  attend  on  his 
preaching,  and  so  small  their  hopes  of  being  able 
to  obtain  pastors  of  comparable  popularity  with 
his,  that  they  absolutely  remained  vacant  as  long 
as  he  continued  to  reside  there;  and,  (to  use  the 
language  of  the  venerable  friend*  who  communi- 
cated this  information,)  would  probably  never  have 
thought  of  any  other  man  as  long  as  he  remained 
within  their  reach.  In  truth,  the  friends  of  reli- 
gion, for  many  miles  around,  considered  iiim  as  a 
spiritual  father;  looked  up  to  him  for  counsel,  and 
followed  his  ministrations  with  admiring  ardour, 
to  a  degree  rarely  witnessed. 

One  little  anecdote  shall  close  the  list  of  proofs 
on  this  subject.  A  year  or  two  before  Mr.  Rod- 
gers  removed  from  St.  George's,  Mr.  Whitefield 
had  appointed,  on  a  certain  day,  to  preach  within 
a  few  miles  of  his  residence.  The  people  of  the 
neighbourhood  assembled,  at  the  appointed  time, 
to  the  number  of  five  or  six  thousand.  Owing  to 
some  circumstances,  now  unknown,  Mr.  White- 
field  never  came.  The  people,  after  waiting  in 
vain  for  a  considerable  time,  urged  Mr,  Rodgers, 
who  was  present,  to  rise  and  address  them.  For 
any  man,  even  witli  tlie  best  preparation,  to  take 
the  place  of  Whitefield,  and  preach  to  an  audience 
which  he  had  been  expected  to  address,  would 
have  been  an  arduous  task ;  but  to  do  this  on  a 
sudden  call,  and  with  scarcely  any  preparation, 
was  much  more  so.  Mr.  Rodgers,  however,  made 
it  one  of  the  first  principles  of  his  ministry,  never 
to  shrink  from  any  service  to   which  the   provi- 

*  The  Rev.  Dr.  Thomas  Read,  of  VVihnington,  Dela- 
ware, to  whom  the  writer  is  indebted  for  several  interest- 
ing facts  in  the  early  part  of  the  ministry  of  Dr.  Rodgers. 


ST.  George's.  §5 

dence  of  God  evidently  called  him.  He,  there- 
fore, determined,  without  hesitation,  to  comply 
with  the  request  of  his  friends;  and,  after  a  few 
moments  premeditation,  rose  and  preached  to  the 
multitude  in  the  open  air.  The  consequences 
were  happy.  It  proved,  indeed,  a  day  of  power. 
It  was  the  opinion  of  many  who  heard  him,  that, 
notwilhstandin((  all  the  disadvantages  of  the  occa- 
sion, the  preacher  scarcely  ever  spoke  so  accept- 
ably or  so  well.  He  outdid  himself.  The  con- 
gregation on  dispersing  unequivocally  manifested 
that  they  had  not  been  disappointed ;  and  numbers 
had  reason  long  to  remember  the  solemnities  of 
the  day  with  grateful  and  adoring  joy. 

But  Mr.  Rodgers'  ministry  at  St.  George's  was 
now  drawing  to  a  close.  The  death  of  the  pious 
and  venerable  Mr.  Bostwick,  one  of  the  pastors  of 
the  church  in  New  York,  laid  the  members  of  that 
church  under  the  necessity  of  looking  out  for  an- 
other minister.  They  again,  as  they  had  done  ten 
years  before,  directed  their  views  to  Mr.  Rodgers, 
and  after  a  short  time  gave  him  a  unanimous  and 
affectionate  call  to  be  their  pastor. 

This  call  was  dated  in  the  montli  of  January, 
1765.  Its  unanimity,  importance,  and  urgency, 
on  the  one  hand,  and  his  attachment  and  usefulness 
to  the  people  of  St.  George's,  on  the  other,  ex- 
ceedingly agitated  and  embarrassed  his  mind,  and 
rendered  him  unwilling  to  decide  on  the  path  of 
duty  for  himself.  He  therefore,  when  the  call 
was  laid  before  the  Presbytery  to  which  he  be- 
longed, on  the  16th  day  of  April  following,  refer- 
red the  question,  whether  he  ought  to  accept  it  or 
not,  to  that  body.  But  the  Presbytery,  after  hear- 
ing the  commissioners  from  New  York  plead  at 
great  length,  and  with  much  eloquence,  in  favour 


§5  ST.  George's. 

of  their  call ;  and  those  from  the  congregation  of 
St.  George's,  with  no  less  ability  and  affection, 
against  the  removal  of  their  pastor,  determined 
that  it  was  not  expedient  for  them  to  decide  the 
question;  but  referred  the  decision  of  it  to  the 
Synod  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  which  was 
to  meet  on  the  third  Wednesday  of  May  follow- 
ing, in  the  city  of  Philadelphia. 

in  the  beginning  of  the  next  week,  after  the 
rising  of  the  Presbytery  which  had  been  employ- 
ed in  considering  the  call  from  New  York,  another 
call  reached  the  hands  of  JNIr.  Rodgers,  earnestly 
inviting  him  to  take  the  pastoral  care  of  a  large 
and  important  congregational  church  in  Charles- 
ton, in  South  Carohna.  Mr.  Whitefield,  being  on 
a  visit  to  Mr.  Rodgers,  a  few  days  after  the  arrival 
of  these  calls,  and  prior  to  the  meeting  of  the 
Synod,  declared  that  he  considered  the  aspect 
of  providence  as  deciding  that  his  work  at  St. 
George's  was  done,  and  that  he  was  about  to  be 
removed  from  that  place.  But  when  asked  which 
of  the  calls  he  thought  Mr.  Rodgers  ought  to  ac- 
cept; a  question  w'hich  his  familiar  acquaintance 
with  both  New  York  and  Cliarleston  gave  him 
peculiar  advantages  for  deciding;  he  declared  him- 
self unable  to  make  up  a  decisive  opinion.  When 
the  business  came  before  the  Synod,  after  a  full 
and  patient  hearing  of  all  parlies,  for  near  three 
days,  and  after  special  prayer  to  God  for  direction 
in  the  case,  they  decided  by  nearly  a  unanimous 
vote,  that  it  was  the  duty  of  Mr.  Rodgers  to  accept 
of  the  call  from  New  York,  of  which  accordingly 
he  declared  his  acceptance,  and  his  pastoral  rela- 
tion to  the  church  at  St.  George's  was  immediate- 
ly (li<;solved.  This  event  took  place  on  the  18lh 
of  May,  1765. 


CHURCH    IN   NEW    YORK.  g^ 

Mr.  Rodgers  began,  without  delay,  to  prepare 
for  his  removal  to  the  new  scene  of  labour  which 
the  great  Head  of  the  Church  had  marked  out  for 
him.  The  struggle  which  attended  his  taking 
leave  of  his  beloved  people,  was,  as  we  have  been 
told  in  a  former  page,  alfecting  and  painful  in  the 
highest  degree.  But  the  attention  and  cordiality 
with  which  he  was  received  by  the  people  of  his 
new  charge,  speedily  and  happily  alleviated  the 
pain  of  this  separation.  He  arrived  in  the  city  of 
New  York,  with  his  family,  on  the  24th  day  of 
July,  1765,  and  was  installed  pastor  of  the  church 
in  that  place  on  the  4lh  day  of  September  follow- 
ing, by  the  Presbytery  of  New  York,  of  which  he 
had,  of  course,  become  a  member. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

A  brief  history  of  the  Church  in  New  York,  anterior  to 
the  commencement  of  Mr.  Rodgers'  ministry  as  its 
pastor. 

Before  we  proceed  to  the  contemplation  of  Mr. 
Rodger's  ministry  in  New  York,  it  will  be  proper 
to  give  some  account  of  the  rise  and  progress  of 
the  church  in  that  city,  in  the  pastoral  charge  of 
which  he  spent  so  large  a  part  of  his  life.  This 
is  not  only  desirable,  to  gratify  the  curiosity  of 
those  who  may  feel  an  interest  in  the  subject,  but 
it  is  in  a  measure  necessary,  in  order  to  the  satis- 
factory illustration  of  the  character  and  success  of 
his  labours,  especially  in  the  early  part  of  his 
ministry  in  that  church. 


g§  HISTORY   OF  THE 

The  first  account  which  we  have  of  any  Presby- 
terians, in  the  city  of  New  York,  from  England, 
Scotland,  or  Ireland,  is  dated  in  the  year  1706. 
For  a  number  of  years  before  that  time,  the  Dutch 
Presbyterians  from  Holland,  the  French  Presbyte- 
rians,* who  had  fled  from  the  bloody  persecutions 

*  Although  the  title  of  Presbyterian,  is,  in  popular  lan- 
guage, chiefly  confined  to  the  churches  in  Great  Britain, 
and  Ireland,  and  those  who  descended  from  them,  who 
hold  the  doctrine  of  ministerial  parity,  and  maintain  a 
government  by  Presbyteries ;  yet  the  term,  as  every  well 
informed  reader  knows,  is  much  more  extensive  in  its 
application.  The  Reformed  churches  of  Holland,  France, 
Germany,  and  Geneva,  were  all  as  really  Presbyterian  as 
that  of  Scotland.  That  is,  they  all,  unanimously  and  de- 
cisively, maintained  the  parity  of  ministers ;  the  scriptural 
warrant  of  Ruling  Elders;  and  the  government  of  larger 
districts  of  the  church,  by  Presbyteries  and  Synods;  in 
other  words,  by  a  number  of  ministers  and  ruling  elders, 
sitting  judicially,  and  deciding  authoritatively  on  the 
general  concerns  of  the  church  in  a  kingdom  or  province. 
Nay,  even  the  Lutheran  churches  in  Germany,  Sweden, 
Denmark,  &c.  at  the  era  of  the  Reformation,  adopted  the 
essential  principles  of  Presbyterian  government.  They 
all  maintained,  and  do  to  the  present  day  maintain,  the 
ordaining  power  of  Presbyters;  and  many  of  them  have 
ruling  elders  in  their  churches.  Lutlier  himself,  as  was 
before  stated,  though  only  a  Presbyter,  ordained  a  num- 
ber of  ministers,  and  declared  ordination  by  Presbyters 
to  be  the  apostolic  mode.  In  short,  the  whole  Protestant 
world,  excepting  the  (.^hiircli  of  England,  and  those  who 
have  descended  from  her,  at  the  period  of  the  Reforma- 
tion, either  adopted  Presbyterian  principles,  in  all  their 
extent,  or  recognized  and  incorporated  the  essential  jjarts 
of  that  .system  in  their  respective  ecclesiastical  constitu- 
tions. The  reformation  in  England,  being  chietly  carried 
on  by  the  bishops;  and  they,  as  might  naturally  have 
been  expected,  being  unwilling  to  relinquish  their  pre- 
eminence, concurred  with  the  civil  power  in  retaining 
prelacy,  among  a  number  of  other  relics  of  popery.  That 
the  Waldenses,  the  Albigenscs,  and  the  Bohemian  breth- 


CHURCH   IN   NEW    YORK.  89 

which  followed  the  revocation  of  the  Edict  of 
Nantes,  the  Episcopalians  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land, and  a  few  German  Lutiierans,  constituted 
almost  the  whole  of  the  ecclesiastical  population  of 
the  city.  In  tlie  year  just  mentioned,  it  appears 
that  a  small  number  of  Presbyterian  families, 
which  had  chiefly  migrated  from  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland,  together  with  a  very  few  individuals,  as 
there  is  reason  to  believe,  from  New  England, 
were  in  the  habit  of  meeting  together  for  social 
worship.*^  'fhey  had,  however,  no  organized 
churcli,  no  pastor,  nor  any  public  building  in 
which  they  convened.  They  assembled  in  a  pri- 
vate house,  and  employed  themselves  when  toge- 
ther, in  reading  the  Scriptures  and  other  pious 
writings,  and  in  prayer  and  praise,  conducted  al- 
ternately by  the  most  pious  and  prudent  of  their 
number. 

In  the  month  of  January  1707,  the  Rev.  Francis 

ren ;  and  after  them,  WicklifFe,  Zuinglius,  Luther,  Calvin, 
and  the  whole  body  of  Reformers  on  the  continent  of  Eu- 
rope, should  have  rejected  prelacy,  as  an  ordinance  of 
Divine  rig^ht,  and  expressly  maintained  the  essential  prin- 
ciples of  Presbyterianism,  really  furnishes  a  most  import- 
ant body  of  evidence  in  favour  of  that  truly  apostolic  and 
primitive  form  of  church  order.  This  evidence,  however, 
is  not  wanted.  The  New  Testament,  and  especially  the 
Acts  of  the  Apostles,  taken  in  connexion  with  the  Epistles 
to  Timothy  and  Titus,  so  conclusively  refute  all  prelatical 
claims,  and  so  firmly  establisli  the  Presbyterian  doctrine, 
that  we  need  no  confirmation  derived  from  human  autho- 
rity. See  "  Letters  on  the  constitution  and  order  of  the 
Christian  Ministry."  Vol.  I.  Letter  VL  and  Vol.  2.  Let- 
ters VL  VIL  VIIL 

*  Of  this  number,  the  names  of  only  five  persons  are 
now  known,  viz.  David  Jamison,  Esq.,  Capt.  John  Theo- 
balds, Mr.  John  Vanhorne,  Mr.  William  Jackson,  ajid 
Mr.  Anthony  Young. 

8 


90  HISTORY   OF  THE 

McKemie,  and  the  Rev.  John  Hampton,  two 
Presbyterian  ministers,  who  had  been  for  some 
time  engaged  in  preaching  the  gospel  in  different 
parts  of  Virginia  and  Maryland,*  paid  a  visit  to 
New  York,  on  their  way  to  Boston.  On  their 
arrival  in  the  city,  having  made  known  their  cha- 
racter, and  produced  the  most  unquestionable  testi- 
monials of  their  good  standing,  leave  was  obtained 
for  Mr.  McKemie  to  preach  in  the  Dutch  church, 
in  Garden  street,  while  Mr.  Hampton  rode  over  to 
New  Town,  on  Long  Island,  for  the  purpose  of 

*  These  gentlemen  had  been  sent  out,  by  a  respectable 
body  of  dissenters  in  the  city  of  London,  for  the  purpose 
of  serving  as  Evangelists  in  the  middle  and  southern 
colonies  of  America.  Mr.  McKemie,  the  more  eminent 
of  these  two  evangelists,  was  a  native  of  Ireland.  He 
came  to  America  about  the  year  1700;  and  fixed  his  habi- 
tation on  the  peninsula  between  the  Delaware  and  Chesa- 
peake ba^'s,  in  the  county  of  Accomack,  Virginia,  very 
near  the  Maryland  line.  From  this  spot,  as  the  centre  of 
hits  operations,  he  went  forth  in  all  directions,  preaching 
the  gospel  wherever  he  found  people  willing  to  hear  him. 
The  Episcopal  clergy  of  Virginia,  becoming  much  alarmed 
and  incensed  at  his  evangelical  labours,  had  influence 
enough  to  cause  him  to  be  arrested  and  carried  over  the 
bay  to  Williamsburgh,  to  answer  for  the  crime  of  preach- 
ing the  gospel.  But  such  was  the  force  of  his  talents,  and 
the  fascination  of  his  address,  that  he  conciliated  tlic  Go- 
vernor, who  became  his  friend,  and  not  only  licensed  his 
dwelling  house  as  a  place  of  worship,  but  also  gave  him  a 
general  license  to  preach  in  tiie  dominion.  Mr.  McKemie 
was  a  man  of  eminent  piety,  as  well  as  of  strong  intellec- 
tual powers.  His  conversion  was  early  and  remarkable. 
In  a  pamphlet  whicli  he  j)ul)lished  in  Virginia,  in  reply  to 
an  crrorist,  who  had  charged  him  with  denying  the  influ- 
ences of  the  Holy  Spirit,  he  declared,  that  "so  far  from 
denying  them,  he  believed  them  to  be  indispensable  to  all 
real  religion ;  and  had  reason  to  thank  (Jod  that,  at  four- 
teen years  of  age,  under  the  instructions  of  a  pious  school- 
master, he  felt  their  power  on  his  own  soul." 


CHURCH   IN   NEW   YORK.  91 

preaching  to  the  Presbyterian  churcli  which  had 
been  for  some  time  planted  in  that  j)lace.  Lord 
Cornbury,  a  cousin  of  Queen  Anne,  and  a  most 
bigoted  Episcopahan,  was  then  governor  of  the 
province  of  New  York.*  His  Lordship,  hearing 
of  the  permission  which  had  been  given  to  Mr. 
McKemie  by  the  minister  and  consistory  of  the 
Dutch  church,  utterly  prohibited  his  preaching 
in  that  church.  Under  these  circumstances,  Mr. 
McKemie  preaclied  a  single  sermon,  at  the  house 
of  Mr.  William  Jackson,  at  the  lower  end  of  Pearl 
street,  to  a  small  audience,  and  baptized  a  child, 
with  open  doors.     On  the  succeeding  Tuesday  he 

*  The  meanness,  as  well  as  the  contemptible  bigotry  of 
this  man,  will  appear  from  the  following  anecdote,  of  un- 
questionable authenticity.  Tlie  Presbyterians  of  Jamaica, 
on  Long  Island,  had  erected  a  commodious  edifice  for  the 
worship  of  God,  and  also  possessed  a  handsome  parson- 
age-house and  glebe,  which  they  had  enjoyed  undisturbed 
for  many  years.  A  short  time  previous  to  the  year  1702, 
when  Lord  Cornbury  arrived,  a  few  Episcopalians  having 
settled  in  the  town,  began  to  view  the  Presbyterian  church 
with  a  jealous  eye;  and  at  length  carried  their  insolent 
violence  so  far  as  to  seize  on  the  church,  between  the 
morning  and  afternoon  service,  and  endeavoured  to  hold  it 
for  the  use  of  their  own  sect.  After  much  controversy,  it 
was  recovered  out  of  their  hands,  and  restored  to  its  proper 
owners.  In  th-e  midst  of  this  contest,  in  the  summer  of 
1702,  a  malignant  fever  breaking  out  in  the  city  of  New 
York,  Lord  Cornbury  retired  to  Jamaica.  The  parson, 
age-house,  in  which  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hubbard,  the  minister 
of  the  church,  lived,  was  the  best  in  the  town.  His  Lord- 
ship begged  the  loan  of  it  for  the  use  of  his  family ;  and 
Mr.  Hubbard  put  himself  to  no  small  inconvenience  to 
comply  with  his  request.  In  return  for  this  generous  con- 
duct, his  Lordship,  on  retiring  from  the  house,  perfidiously 
delivered  it  into  the  hands  of  the  Episcopal  party,  whose 
feelings  and  principles  permitted  them  to  receive  it. 
Smith,  119. 


92  HISTORY   OF  THE 

went  over  to  New  Town  to  join  his  companion, 
and  to  fulfil  an  appointment  which  had  been  made 
for  him  to  preach  there  the  next  day.  Here  he 
and  Mr.  Hampton  were  arrested,  by  the  sheriff  of 
Queen's  county,  by  virtue  of  a  warrant  from  Lord 
Cornbury,  and  were  led  in  triumph  a  circuitous 
route,  through  Jamaica,  to  the  city  of  New  York, 
where  they  were  carried  before  the  Governor,  and, 
by  his  order,  were  thrown  into  prison.  In  conse- 
quence of  the  absence  of  the  Chief  Justice,  they 
continued  in  confinement  near  two  months.  At 
the  end  of  which  time,  they  were  brought  before 
that  officer  by  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus,  and  ad- 
mitted to  bail.*  Ill  the  month  of  June  following, 
JNIr.  McKemie  returned  from  Virginia  to  New 
York,  to  attend  the  sessions  of  the  supreme  court, 
when  his  trial  came  on  ;  in  the  course  of  which  it 
is  difficult  to  say,  whether  he  was  most  conspicu- 
ous for  his  talents  as  a  man,  or  for  his  dignity  and 
piety,  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  t     The  jury  ac- 

*  As  Mr.  Hampton  had  not  preached  in  the  city,  no  bill 
was  found  against  liim  by  the  grand  jury ;  and  he  was  of 
course  discharged. 

t  See  an  account  of  this  trial  in  Smith's  History  of  New 
York;  and  still  more  at  large  in  a  formal  report  of  the 
trial,  entitled,  "  A  Narrative  of  a  new  and  unusual  Ame- 
rican inij)risonment,  of  two  Presbyterian  Ministers,  and 
prosecution  of  Mr.  Francis  McKcmie,  one  of  them,  for 
preaching  one  Sermon  in  the  city  of  New  York,  1707." 
The  following  short  extract  from  the  trial,  will  show  the 
spirit  and  firmness  with  which  Mr.  McKemie  treated  his 
persecutors. 

Mr.  Attorney.  You  own,  that  you  preached  a  sermon, 
and  bai)tizcd  a  child,  at  Mr.  William  Jackson's. 

Mr.  McKemie.  Yes,  I  did. 

Mr.  Attor.  How  many  hearers  had  you? 

Mr.  McK.  I  have  other  work  to  do,  Mr.  Attorney,  than 
to  number  my  auditory,  when  1  am  about  to  preach  to  them. 


CHURCH   IN   NEW   YORK.  93 

quilted  him.  But  through  the  glaring  and  shame- 
ful partiality  of  the  court,  he  was  not  discharged 
from  his  recognizance  until  they  had  illegally  ex- 
torted from  him  all  the  fees  of  his  prosecution, 
which,  together  with  his  expenses,  amounted  to 
between  two  and  three  hundred  dollars. 

These  proceedings  were  not  only  in  the  highest 

Mr.  Attor.  Was  there  above  five  hearing  you  ? 

Mr.  McK.  Yes,  and  five  to  that. 

Mr.  Attor.  Did  you  use  the  rites  and  ceremonies  en- 
joined by,  and  prescribed  in  the  book  of  Common  Prayer, 
by  the  Church  of  England  ? 

Mr.  McK.  No,  I  never  did,  nor  never  will,  until  I  am 
better  satisfied  in  my  conscience. 

Mr.  Attor.  Did  you  ask  leave,  or  acquaint  my  Lord 
Cornbury  with  your  preaching  at  York,  when  you  dined 
with  him  at  the  Fort? 

Mr.  McK.  I  did  not  know  of  my  preaching  at  York, 
when  I  dined  with  his  excellency ;  no,  not  for  some  days 
after.  For  when  wc  came  to  York,  we  had  not  the  least 
intention,  or  design  of  preaching  there ;  but  stopped  at 
York,  purely  to  pay  our  respects  to  the  Governor,  which 
we  did ;  but  being  afterwards  called,  and  invited  to  preach, 
as  I  am  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  I  durst  not  deny  preach- 
ing, nor  I  hope  I  never  shall,  where  it  is  wanting  and  de- 
sired. 

Mr.  Attor.  Did  you  not  acquaint  my  Lord  Cornbury 
with  the  place  of  your  preaching? 

Mr.  McK.  As  soon  as  I  determined  to  preach,  leave 
was  asked,  though  not  by  me ;  for  it  was  the  people's  bu- 
siness, and  not  mine,  to  provide  a  place  for  me  to  preach 
in.  And  I  would  have  been  admitted  to  preach  in  the 
Dutch  church;  but  they  were  afraid  of  offending  Lord 
Cornbury.  And  Mr.  Anthony  Young,  went  to  tlie  gover- 
nor, to  have  his  leave,  or  permission,  lor  my  preaching  in 
the  Dutch  church ;  though  all  this  was  done  without  so 
much  as  my  knowledge;  but  my  lord  opposing  and  deny- 
ing it,  I  was  under  a  necessity  of  prcaciiing  where  I  did, 
in  a  private  house,  though  in  a  public  manner,  with  open 
doors. 


94  HISTORY   OF  THE 

degree  unjust  and  oppressive;  but  they  had  not 
even  a  shadow  of  law  to  support  them.  The  act 
of  the  provincial  assembly,  passed  in  1693,  "For 
settling  a  ministry  in  the  city  of  New  York,  and 
counties  of  Richmond,  West  Chester  and  Queen's," 
and  which  was  the  only  law  on  the  subject  then  in 
force,  merely  provided  for  the  induction  and  sup- 
port of  a  "  good  and  sufficient  Protestant  minister," 
in  each  of  those  counties;  leaving  all  denominations 
on  a  perfect  parity.  It  was  even  by  a  mere  arbi- 
trary construction,  that  the  terms,  "  good  and  suffi- 
cient Protestant  minister,"  were  considered  as 
meaning  a  minister  of  the  Episcopal  denomination  ; 
for  there  was  nothing  in  the  law  that  rendered  such 
a  construction  necessary.  This  construction,  how- 
ever, was  adopted  and  acted  upon  ;  and  the  Pres- 
byterians, feeble  and  oppressed,  were  compelled, 
for  tha  greater  part  of  a  century,  besides  support- 
ing their  own  church,  to  contribute  their  quota 
toward  the  support  of  the  Episcopal  church,  already 
enriched  by  governmental  favour. 

The  small  body  of  Presbyterians,  above  men- 
tioned, however,  notwithstanding  the  signal  op- 
pression which  they  experienced  in  this  instance, 
were  not  discouraged.  The  removal  of  their  bit- 
ter enemy,  lord  Cornbury,  from  the  government 
of  New  York,  which  took  place  in  1708,  was  fa- 
vourable to  their  prosperity.  *  They  kept  together, 

*  Lord  Cornbury  was  the  son  of  the  Earl  of  Clarendon. 
"  Hunted  out  of  Enj^land  by  a  liost  of  liungry  creditors  ; 
bent  upon  accumulating  as  much  wealth  as  he  could 
squeeze  from  the  purses  of  an  impoverished  people;  and 
animated  with  unequalled  zeal  for  the  Episcopal  churcli, 
he  commenced  his  administration,  as  successor  of  lord 
Bcllamont,  May  3d,  1702.  He  was  trifling,  mean,  and 
extravagant.     Never  was  there  a  governor  of  New  York 


CHURCH  IN  NEW  YORK.  95 

and  continued,  with  few  interruptions,  and  with  a 
gradual  increase  of  their  number,  to  meet  for  wor- 
ship, without  a  minister,  until  the  year  1716,  when 
John  Nicoll,  Patrick  McKnight,  Gilbert  Livings- 
ton, Thomas  Smith,  and  a  few  others,  conceived 
the  plan  of  forming  themselves  into  a  regular  Pres- 
byterian church,  and  calling  a  stated  pastor.  They 
immediately  took  measures  for  that  purpose;  and, 
in  the  summer  of  the  same  year,  gave  a  call  to  the 
Reverend  James  Anderson,  a  native  of  Scotland, 
then  residing  in  the  town  of  Newcastle,  in  Dela- 
ware, to  be  their  minister.  *  The  call  was  referred, 
by  tlie  PresbyterVi  to  a  commission  of  the  Synod 
of  Philadelphia,  who  decided,  in  the  month  of  Sep- 
tember, that  Mr.  Anderson  ought  to  accept  the 
call.  He  accordingly  accepted  it;  and  removed, 
with  his  family,  to  New  York,  toward  the  latter 
end  of  October  following. 

For  near  three  years  after  Mr.  Anderson's  set- 
tlement in  New  York,  he  and  his  infant  congre- 
gation assembled  for  public  worship  in  the  City 
Hall,  the  use  of  which  was  liberally  granted  them 

Ro  universally  detested,  or  so  deserving  of  abhorrence. 
The  cries  of  the  oppressed,  reaching  the  ears  of  the  Queen, 
in  1708,  she  appointed  lord  Lovelace  governor  in  his  stead. 
As  soon  as  Cornbury  was  superseded,  his  creditors  threv? 
him  into  the  custody  of  the  sheriff  of  New  York :  but  af- 
ter the  death  of  his  father,  he  was  permitted  to  return  to 
England,  and  succeeded  to  the  Earldom  of  Clarendon." 
Smith. 

*  Mr.  Anderson  was  born  November  17th,  1678.  He 
was  ordained  by  tlie  Presbytery  of  Irvine,  November  17th, 
1708.  He  left  Scotland,  Marcli  6th,  1709;  and  arrived  at 
Rappaiiannock,  in  Virginia,  the  22d  of  April  following. 
He  became  a  member  of  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia 
September  1710;  and  settled  in  Newcastle  a  short  time 
a  fterwards. 


96  HISTORY  OF  THE 

for  that  purpose,  by  the  corporation  of  the  city. 
In  1718,  the  four  gentlemen  last  named,  purchased 
a  piece  of  ground  in  Wall  street,  near  Broadway, 
on  which,  in  the  year  1719,  they  erected  the  first 
Presbyterian  church,  that  was  founded  in  the  city 
of  New  York.  To  meet  the  expenses  which  at- 
tended this  pious  enterprise,  their  own  subscrip- 
tions, and  the  donations  which  they  received  from 
the  few,  of  other  denominations  in  the  city,  who 
favoured  their  plan,  were  by  no  means  sufficient. 
To  assist  them,  a  public  collection  was  taken  up 
for  their  benefit  in  the  colony  of  Connecticut;  and 
a  still  larger  collection  in  Scotland,  by  order  of  the 
General  Assembly  of  that  church.  Tliis  last  was 
effected  chiefly,  under  Providence,  by  the  indefa- 
tigable zeal  and  exertions  of  Dr.  John  NicoU,  an 
eminent  physician  of  New  York,  who  early  cast  in 
his  lot  with  the  Presbyterians  of  that  city,  and 
who,  for  a  number  of  years,  did  more  than  all 
others,  to  promote  the  interests  of  their  church.* 

*  "Dr.  John  Nicoll  was  born  in  Scotland,  and  obtained 
a  liberal  education  in  the  arts  and  sciences,  and  in  medi- 
cine, in  the  university  of  Edinburgh,  where  he  was  gra- 
duated. His  exertions  in  behalf  of  the  church  in  New 
York,  were  as  useful  as  they  were  unwearied.  He  died  in 
the  year  1743,  in  the  sixty-fourth  year  of  his  age.  In  a 
sermon,  i)reached  on  tlie  occasion  of  his  death  by  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Pcmbcrton,  at  that  time  the  pastor  of  the  church,  and 
which  was  afterwards  printed,  the  following  paragraph  is 
foimd.  "These  walls  will  be  a  lasting  monument  of  his 
zeal  for  the  house  and  the  public  worship  of  God;  in  the 
erecting  of  which  he  spent  a  considerable  part  of  his 
estate,  and  undertook  a  hazardous  voyage  to  Europe,  for 
the  establishment  and  security  of  this  infant  society.  Upon 
these,  and  other  accounts,  too  numerous  to  be  mentioned, 
while  a  Presbyterian  church  subsists  in  the  city  of  New 
York,  the  name  of  Nicoll  will  ever  be  remembered  with 


CHXJBCH  IN  NEW   YORK.  97 

He  took  a  voyage  to  Scotland  for  the  purpose  of 
engaging  the  interest  of  the  General  Assembly  in 
behalf  of  this  infant  chnrch,  and  at  length  suc- 
ceeded in  accomplishing  his  purpose. 

In  the  month  of  March  1720,  Mr.  Anderson,  and 
the  officers  of  his  church,  presented  a  petition  to 
Peter  Schuyler,  esquire,  president  of  the  king's 
council,  in  the  absence  of  governor  Hunter,  pray- 
ing for  a  charter  of  incorporation.  The  president 
was  himself  friendly  to  the  prayer  of  the  petition, 
and  the  council,  at  first,  reported  in  favour  of  grant- 
ing it.  But  the  hopes  of  the  petitioners  were 
frustrated  by  the  interference,  and  zealous  exertions 
of  the  vestry  of  Trinity  church,  against  tlieir  appli- 
cation. A  member  of  that  vestry  appeared,  offi- 
cially, before  the  council,  and  strongly  opposed 
their  granting  the  solicited  charter ;  in  consequence 
of  which  it  was  finally  refused. 

Soon  after  governor  Burnet's  arrival,  in  the 
autumn  of  1720,  Mr.  Anderson  and  his  church  re- 
newed their  application  for  a  charter.  The  go- 
vernor himself  spoke  favourably  of  their  design, 
and  professed  himself  their  friend;  but  they  were 
again  defeated,  by  the  determined  resistance  of  the 
vestry  of  Trinity  church. 

Mr.  Anderson,  though  a  man  of  talents,  learning, 
and  piety,  and  a  graceful,  popular  preacher,  had 
not  been  long  settled  as  the  pastor  of  the  church  in 
New  York,  before  some  serious  dissatisfaction  arose 
between  him  and  a  portion  of  his  people.  A  con- 
siderable number  of  them  having  been  accustomed 
to  the  less  rigid  habits  of  the  Presbyterian  and 
Congregational  churches  of  South  Britain,  were 

honour,  as  one  of  its  principal  founders,  and  its  greatest 
benefactor." 


98  HISTORY   OF    THE 

not  pleased  with  the  strict  Presbyterianism,  accord- 
ing to  the  Scottisli  model,  which  he  endeavoured 
to  enforce.  They  charged  him  with  a  spirit  of  ec- 
clesiastical domination,  and  with  an  improper  in- 
terference in  the  temporal  concerns  of  the  church. 
On  these  accounts  tlie  uneasiness  of  the  dissatisfied 
party  became  at  length  so  great,  that  in  the  year 
1722,  they  drew  off  from  the  body  of  the  congre- 
gation ;  formed  themselves  into  a  distinct  society  ; 
and  worshipped,  it  is  believed,  in  a  small  building, 
in  William  street,  between  Liberty  and  Wall  streets, 
for  a  number  of  months.* 

The  new  society,  soon  after  their  organization, 
invited  Mr.  Jonathan  Edwards,  afterwards  president 
of  the  college  of  New  Jersey,  and  then  a  candidate 
for  the  gospel  ministry,  to  come  and  preach  to 
them.  He  accordingly  came,  about  the  beginning 
of  August,  1722,  and  supplied  their  pulpit  to  good 
acceptance,  until  the  latter  end  of  the  following 
April;  when,  finding  the  congregation  too  small 
to  support  a  minister,  and  perceiving  some  unex- 
pected difficulties  to  arise,  he  left  the  city,  and  re- 
turned to  his  father's  house,  at  Windsor,  in  Con- 
necticut.t     He  was  earnestly  solicited  indeed  by 

*  Of  this  new  society,  which  broke  off  from  the  parent 
cliurcii,  but  few  of  tiie  members  arc  now  known.  It  is  be- 
lieved that  tiie  honourable  William  Smith,  a  native  of 
Newport  Pa<rnel,  in  England,  who  came  to  New  York  in 
1715,  and  who  became  eminent,  as  a  Counsellor  at  law, 
as  a  Judge,  and  as  a  member  of  tlie  king's  council,  was 
the  leader.  He  returned  to  the  original  church,  not  long 
afterwards ;  and  was,  ibr  near  forty  years,  among  her  most 
active;,  useful,  and  important  members. 

t  The  Rev.  Jonathan  Edwards,  was  born  at  Windsor, 
in  Connecticut,  October  5tli,  1703.  He  received  his  edu- 
cation at  Yale  College,  where  he  graduated  baeliclor  of 
arts  in  1720.     He  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel,  and 


CHURCH   OF   NEW   YORK.  99 

the  congregation  to  pay  them  another  visit ;  but 
judging  from  what  he  saw,  when  among  them,  tliat 
it  was  not  his  tkity,  he  declined  a  compliance  with 
their  second  invitation.  Whether  they  ever  called 
any  other  preacher;  and  how  long  they  continued 
in  a  state  of  separation  from  the  main  body  of  the 
church,  is  not  known.  It  is  believed,  however, 
that  soon  after  Mr.  Edwards  left  them,  they  per- 
ceived the  impossibility  of  their  going  on  with 
comfort  as  a  separate  congregation,  and  quietly  re- 
turned to  their  old  connexion. 

In  the  summer  of  the  year  1726,  Mr.  Anderson 
received  a  call  from  New  Donnegal,  in  Pennsylva- 
nia, which  he  accepted  ;  and  removed  thither  with 
his  family  in  the  month  of  October  following, 
where  he  died,  July  16ih,  1740. 

In  the  month   of  April,    1727,  Mr.   Ebenezer 

actually  commenced  his  labours  in  New  York,  before  he 
was  nineteen  years  of  age.  In  1727  he  was  ordained  to 
the  work  of  tiie  gospel  ministry,  at  Nortliampton,  in  Mas- 
sachusetts; and  in  1757  was  elected  President  of  the  col- 
lege of  New  Jersey,  where  he  died,  in  March,  1758,  in  less 
than  two  months  after  his  induction  into  office,  in  the  fifty- 
fifth  year  of  his  age.  Mr.  Edwards  possessed  an  acuteness, 
vigour,  and  comprehensiveness  of  mind,  which  unques- 
tionably place  him  in  the  very  first  rank  of  great  men  be- 
longing to  the  age  in  which  he  lived-  His  Inquiry  into 
the  Freedom  of  the  Will,  has  been  pronounced,  by  the  best 
judges,  to  be  "one  of  the  greatest  efforts  of  the  human 
mind;"  and  has  been  considered  and  quoted,  ever  since 
its  publication,  as  a  great  standard  work  on  the  subject  of 
which  it  treats.  His  work  on  Original  Sin,  is  little,  if  at 
all,  interior  to  the  former:  and  his  treatise  on  Religious 
Affections  is  among  tlic  most  deep,  clear,  and  discriminat- 
ing works  on  the  evidences  of  vital  piety,  that  the  world 
ever  saw.  It  is  one  of  the  honours  of  tiie  Presbyterian 
church  of  New  York,  that  a  portion  of  it  enjoyed,  for  eight 
months,  the  preaching  of  Jonathan  Edwards. 


100  HISTORY   OF  THE 

Pemberton,  a  licentiate,  of  the  town  of  Boston, 
paid  a  visit  to  the  vacant  church  in  New  York, 
and  preached  to  such  acceptance,  that  all  parties 
united  in  giving  him  an  affectionate  and  urgent  call 
to  become  their  pastor.  Mr.  Pemberton  accepted 
this  call,  and  immediately  returned  to  Boston, 
where  he  was  ordained  to  the  work  of  the  gospel 
ministry  on  the  9th  of  August,  in  the  same  year, 
with  a  special  view  to  his  taking  charge  of  the 
church  in  New  York,  by  the  association  which 
had  licensed  him.  Soon  after  his  ordination,  he 
came  back,  and  entered  on  his  pastoral  charge.* 
Mr.  Pemberton  was  a  respectable,  diligent,  and 
useful  preacher  and  pastor.  Tiie  church  prospered 
under  his  ministrations  ;  and  he  held  a  conspicu- 
ous and  honourable  place  among  the  ministers  of 
the  city. 

After  repealed  attempts,  for  several  years,  to  ob- 
tain an  act  of  incorporation,  without  success,  the 
congregation,  feeling  that  the  tenure  by  which  they 
held  their  property  was  insecure,  and  fearing  that 
the  same  religious  sect  which  had  opposed  the 
granting  of  their  request,  would  watch  for  an  op- 
portunity to  give  them  a  more  fatal  blow,t  deler- 

*  The  Rev.  Ebenezer  Pemberton  was  the  son  of  a  dis- 
tinfjuishcd  clergyman  of  the  same  name.  He  was  born 
in  Boston  in  the  year  1704,  and  was  graduated  at  Harvard 
College  in  1721.  Soon  after  his  licensure,  he  visited  New 
York,  where  lie  afterwards  settled.  When  he  left  New 
York,  in  1753,  he  returned  to  Boston,  and  became  pastor 
of  the  new  brick  church  in  that  town,  as  the  successor  of 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Welsteed,  where  he  continued  until  his  death, 
which  took  place  September  9th,  1777,  in  the  seventy- 
third  year  of  his  age.  Mr.  Pemberton,  after  his  removal 
to  Boston,  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from 
the  College  of  New  Jersey. 

t  See  Smith's  History  of  New  York,  p.  209,  210. 


CHURCH   IN   NEW   YORK.  JQJ 

mined  to  take  decisive  measures  to  secure  them- 
selves. Accordingly,  the  individuals  who  had  been 
invested  with  the  fee-simple  of  their  church  and 
ground  in  Wall  street,  "conveyed  it,  on  the  16th 
of  March,  1730,  to  the  moderator  of  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  Church  of  Scotland,  and  the  com- 
mission thereof;  the  moderator  of  the  Presbytery 
of  Edinburgh;  the  principal  of  the  College  of  Edin- 
burgh ;  the  professor  of  divinity  therein ;  and  the 
procurator  and  agent  of  the  Church  of  Scotland, 
for  the  time  being,  and  their  successors  in  office, 
as  a  committee  of  the  General  Assembly."  And 
on  the  15th  day  of  August,  1732,  the  Church  of 
Scotland,  by  an  instrument  under  the  seal  of  the 
General  Assembly,  and  signed  by  Mr.  Neil  Camp- 
bell, principal  of  the  University  of  Glasgow,  and 
moderator  of  the  General  Ass'embly,  and  commis- 
sion thereof,  Mr.  James  Nesbit,  one  of  the  minis- 
ters of  Edinburgh,  and  moderator  of  the  presby- 
tery of  Edinburgh  ;  Mr.  William  Hamilton,  princi- 
pal of  the  University  of  Edinburgh ;  Mr.  James 
Smith,  professor  of  divinity  therein;  and  Mr. 
William  Grant,  advocate,  procurator  for  the  Church 
of  Scodand,  for  the  time  being,  pursuant  to  an  act 
of  the  General  Assembly,  dated  May,  1731,  did 
declare,  "  That  notwithstanding  the  aforesaid  right 
made  to  them,  and  their  successors  in  office,  they 
were  desirous  that  the  aforesaid  building  and  edi- 
fice, and  appurtenances  thereof,  be  preserved  for 
the  pious  and  religious  purposes  for  which  the 
same  were  designed ;  and  that  it  should  be  free 
and  lawful  to  the  Presbyterians,  then  residing,  or 
that  should,  at  any  time  thereafter,  be  resident  in, 
or  near  the  aforesaid  city  of  New  York,  in  Ameri- 
ca, or  others  joining  with  them,  to  convene  in  the 
aforesaid  church,  for  the  worship  of  God  in  all  the 


jQ2  HISTORY   OF   THE 

parts  thereof,  and  for  the  dispensation  of  all  gospel 
ordinances  ;  and,  generally,  to  use  and  occupy  the 
said  church,  and  its  appurtenances,  fully  and  freely, 
in  all  times  coming,  they  maintaining  and  support- 
ing the  edifice  and  appurtenances  at  their  own 
charge.*" 

As  long  as  Dr.  NicoU  lived,  the  management  of 
the  temporal  concerns  of  the  church  was,  by  com- 
mon consent,  committed  almost  unreservedly  to 
his  care.  He  conducted  them  with  so  much  fidelity 
and  judgment,  that  very  little  real  inconvenience 
was  experienced  from  the  want  of  a  charter,  and 
of  a  regular  board  of  trustees.  From  the  period 
of  his  death,  in  1743,  a  different  method  began  to 
be  pursued.  The  congregation  agreed  to  place  the 
manaffement  of  their  temporalities  in  the  hands  of 
a  number  of  gentlemen,  under  the  name  of  trus- 
tees, though  without  their  corporate  powers.  A 
plan  was  drawn  up  for  this  purpose,  specil''ying  the 
nature  of  the  trust,  and  the  extent  of  the  powers 
committed  to  them  ;  and  eiglit  persons  were  fixed 
upon,  at  a  parish  meeting,  for  the  execution  of  this 
plan.  Of  this  number,  two  were  to  go  out  every 
year,  and  two  new  ones  to  be  chosen  in  their  room 
by  the  trustees  themselves ;  reserving,  however, 
to  the  congregation  at  large,  a  right  to  interfere  in 
the  mode  of  appointing  trustees,  when  it  should  be 
thought  necessary. 

Tlie  congregation,  though  gradually  increasing, 
continued  very  small,  until  the  year  1739,  in 
which,  and  in  the  two  following  years,  God  was 
pleased  to  visit  it,  in  common  with  many  other 
parts  of  the  then  Aiuerican  colonies,  with  a  remark- 
able efi'usion  of  his  Holy  Spirit.     Mr.  Pemberton 

»  Smith's  History  of  New  York,  p.  210. 


CHURCH   IN   NEW   YORK.  103 

was  greatly  quickened  and  animated  in  his  work; 
the  preaching  of  the  word  was  attended  with  un- 
common power;  sinners  were  hopefully  convinced 
and  converted;  saints  were  edified  and  comforted; 
and  numbers  were  added  to  the  church. 

In  the  year  1740,  the  celebrated  Mr.  Whitefield 
first  visited  New  York.  Mr.  Pemberton  was  the 
only  clergyman  in  the  city  who  invited  that  apos- 
tolic man  to  his  pulpit.  The  consequences  were, 
to  him  and  his  people,  happy.  Mr.  Wliitefield's 
preaching  was  made  a  blessing  to  many.  Thou- 
sands, of  difTerent  denominations,  flocked  to  the 
church  to  hear  him  ;  a  number  of  families  and  in- 
dividuals who  found  benefit,  continued  to  worship 
there;  some  of  whom  became  regular  members. 
From  this  source,  therefore,  and  on  this  occasion, 
the  church  received  very  important  additions.  In 
the  mean  time,  Mr.  Pemberton  himself  was  abun- 
dant in  his  labours,  and  happy  in  his  success. 
The  small  edifice  in  which  his  church  worshipped 
was  soon  filled,  and  began  to  overflow.  In  a  little 
while  it  became  necessary  to  erect  galleries  in  it, 
of  which  it  was  destitute  before;  and  even  with 
the  addition  of  these,  it  was,  not  long  afterwards, 
found  too  small  to  accommodate  the  worshippers. 

Under  these  circumstances,  an  enlargement  of 
the  building  was  thought  advisable.  Accordingly, 
in  the  year  1748,  it  was  enlarged,  nearly  a  third, 
to  the  size  at  which  it  remained  until  the  begin- 
ning of  the  year  1810,  when  it  was  taken  down, 
to  make  way  for  the  present  edifice.  Mr.  White- 
field  visited  New  York  repeatedly  in  the  course  of 
his  long  stay  in  America,  from  1744  to  1748  ;  and 
his  preaching  there,  as  well  as  elsewhere,  was 
eminently  popular  and  successful.  It  must  always 
be  reckoned  among  the  signal  honours,  and  great 


1Q4  HISTORY   OF   THE 

advantages  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in  New 
York,  that  it  enjoyed  so  large  a  portion  of  the 
American  labours,  of  that  extraordinary  servant  of 
Jesus  Christ. 

The  congregation  still  continuing  to  increase, 
and  the  labours  of  the  pulpit  and  of  the  parish  be- 
ing considered  as  too  great  for  an  individual,  it  vi^as 
thought  proper  to  call  a  colleague  for  Mr.  Pember- 
ton.  The  attention  of  the  people  was  soon  direct- 
ed toward  the  Rev.  Alexander  Gumming,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  and  a 
young  gentleman  of  eminent  talents  and  piety.* 
On  paying  them  a  visit,  he  preached  so  much  to 
their  acceptance,  that  they  gave  him  a  unanimous 
call  to  be  one  of  their  pastors.  He  accepted  the 
call,  and  was  ordained  and  installed  collegiate  pas- 
tor of  their  church,  in  the  month  of  October,  in 
the  year  1750.  Mr.  Gumming  was  a  man  of  a 
remarkably  clear  and  discriminating  mind;  a  close 
student,  and  an  instructive,  excellent  preacher.  He 
had  a  singularly  happy  faculty  of  disentangling  and 
exhibiting  the  most  abstruse  and  intricate  subjects; 
and  was  peculiarly  acceptable  to  the  more  discern- 
ing classes  of  his  hearers. 

But  no  happiness  is   complete,  no  tranquillity 

*  The  Rev.  Alexander  Cumming,  the  son  of  Mr.  Robert 
Gumming,  from  Montrose,  in  Scotland,  was  born  at  Free- 
hold, New  Jersey,  in  the  year  1726.  He  received  his  aca- 
demical education  partly  at  Freehold,  and  partly  under 
the  direction  of  his  uncle,  the  Rev.  Samuel  Blair,  at  Fogg's 
Manor,  in  Pennsylvania.  He  studied  theology  in  his  na- 
tive place,  under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  William  Tenncnt. 
He  was  licensed  to  preach  tlic  gospel,  by  the  Presbytery 
of  New  Brunswick,  in  1746  or  1747;  and  in  a  short  time 
afterwards  was  appointed  a  stated  supply  of  the  church  in 
the  city  of  New  Brunswick,  where  he  resided  several 
years  as  a  licentiate,  before  his  removal  to  New  York. 


CHURCH    IN   NEW   YORK.  105 

permanent,  in  this  world.  Though  the  congrega- 
tion had  been,  for  some  time,  greatly  prospered ; 
and  though  its  members  had  every  reason  to  re- 
joice in  the  character  of  their  ministers,  and  in  the 
goodness  and  grace  of  their  God,  yet  a  root  of  bit- 
terness soon  began  to  spring  up,  which  interrupt- 
ed their  comfort,  and  tinally  produced  the  most 
unhappy  fruits. 

A  large  and  respectable  portion  of  the  congre- 
gation consisted  of  emiiirants  from  Scotland  and 
the  north  of  Ireland.     These  were  universally  at- 
tached to  the  order  and  discijiline  of  the  church  of 
Scotland,  and  lamented  every  departure  from  that 
model.     Another   and   highly   influential    portion 
having  emigrated   either  from    South  Britain,    or 
from  New  England,  rather  leaned  to  the  more  lax 
plan  of  church  order,  which  prevailed  in  their  re- 
spective  countries.     As  Mr.  Pemberton,  their  old 
pastor,  had  received  his  education  in  New  Eng- 
land, and  probably  felt  an  attachment  to  the  reli- 
gious habits  of  his  early  life,  there  is  reason  to 
suppose    that   his   inclinations  and   his  influence 
coincided  with  the  wishes  of  the  latter.     And  as 
Mr.  Gumming,  though  educated  a  Presbyterian, 
•  settled,  not  long  after,  in  a  congregational  church, 
it  is  more  than  likely  that  he  had  no  insuperable 
objections  to  the  congregational   form  of  govern- 
ment.    However  this  may  be,  it  is  certain  that, 
for  some  time  prior  to  the  year  1750,  the  Presby- 
terian plan  had  not  been  strictly  adhered  to  in  the 
church  of  New  York.     There  were  deacons,  but 
no  ruling  elders.     Such   of  the  trustees  as  were 
communicants,  together  with  the  deacons,  acted  as 
a  sort  of  committee   for  assisting  the  minister  in 
the  exercise  of  discipline.     In  short,  in  conduct- 
ing the  internal  affairs  of  the  church,  under  the 
9 


106  HISTORY   OF   THE 

name  of  Presbyterianism,  the  congregational  sys- 
tem was  really  adopted  and  maintained. 

This  circumstance  gave  great  dissatisfaction  to 
the  friends  of  genuine,  consistent  Presbyterianism. 
It  grieved  them,  not  merely  as  a  departure  from 
their  ancient  habits,  but  also  as  less  adapted  to  edi- 
fication than  a  different  course.  They  also  com- 
plained of  the  conduct  of  the  trustees.  They 
alleged  that  that  body,  chosen  by  the  people  to 
manage  the  temporalities  of  the  church,  had  offi- 
ciously and  improperly  interfered  in  its  spiritual 
concerns.  And,  as  the  most  effectual  method  of 
obviating  all  these  difficulties,  they  urged  the  elec- 
tion and  ordination  of  a  bencli  of  ruling  elders, 
who  should  judicially  conduct  tlie  discipline  of  the 
church,  and  leave  the  other  classes  of  officers  to 
act  each  in  their  appropriate  sphere.  The  opposing 
party,  however,  were  by  no  means  disposed  to  ac- 
quiesce in  this  plan.  Things  proceeded  in  their 
former  course,  and  the  uneasiness  continued  with- 
out abatement. 

After  a  short  time,  this  uneasiness  received  im- 
portant addition  from  a  new  source.  In  1752, 
there  was  an  attempt  made  to  introduce  into  the 
church  a  new  version  of  the  book  of  Psalms.  Until 
this  time  Rouse's,  or,  as  it  is  commonly  called,  the 
"old  Scotch  version,"  had  been  in  constant  use  in 
public  worship.  The  greater  part  of  those  who 
had  been  accustomed  to  this  version,  wished  still 
to  retain  it.  Those  who  wished  for  a  change, 
were  not  agreed  among  themselves,  A  few  lead- 
ing individuals  of  this  party  were  desirous  of  adopt- 
ing the  version  of  Tate  and  Brady  ;  but  a  great 
majority  were  very  decisive  and  zealous  in  their 
preference  of  Ur.  Watts'  imitation.  In  this  con- 
troversy the  trustees  took  the  lead,  and  were  far 


CHURCH    IN    NEW    YORK.  XOI 

from  being  so  judicious  and  tender  in  tlieir  mode 
of  conducting  it  as  many  supposed  they  ought  to 
have  been.  Indeed  there  appears  to  have  been  a 
degree  of  animosity  and  violence  on  all  sides, 
which  could  by  no  means  be  justified.  The  party 
in  favour  of  Dr.  VVatts'  Psalms  at  length  prevailed, 
and  they  were  introduced. 

This  event,  however,  was  very  far  from  allaying 
the  ferment.  The  portion  of  the  people  who  fa- 
voured strict  Presbyterianism  and  the  old  version 
of  Psalms,  determined  to  apply  to  the  Presbytery 
for  direction  and  advice ;  and  in  this  application, 
the  other  parly,  at  length,  appear  to  have  concur- 
red. The  Presbytery  was  accordingly  consulted 
on  these  subjects  in  the  month  of  September,  1752. 
That  body,  knowing  the  importance  and  difficulty 
of  deciding  in  the  case,  referred  the  whole  contro- 
versy to  tlie  Synod,  which  met  a  few  days  after- 
wards at  Newark,  in  New  Jersey.  The  Synod 
took  up  the  reference,  and  with  great  deliberation 
and  judgment  decided  on  the  several  articles  of 
complaint.  They  directed  that  ruling  elders  be 
immediately  chosen,  and  set  apart  in  the  congrega- 
tion. They  gave  leave  to  continue  the  use  of  Dr. 
Watts'  imitation  of  the  Psalms  of  David,  as  ortho- 
dox and  evangelical,  especially  as  it  appeared  to  be 
the  choice  of  a  majority;  but  they  expressed  their 
disapprobation  of  the  manner  in  which  it  had  been 
introduced,  by  a  vote  of  the  trustees,  and  a  few 
other  persons,  without  formally  consulting  the  body 
of  the  church. 

A  committee,  appointed  by  the  Synod,  came 
over  to  the  city  the  next  week  to  counsel  and  aid 
the  congregation  in  carrying  these  decisions  into 
effect.  They  saw  the  order  respecting  the  choice 
and  selling  apart  of  elders  executed  without  delay  ; 


2Q3  HISTORY  OF   THE 

and  their  prudent  advice  and  exertions  were  of 
much  use  in  allaying  the  heat  of  the  animosity 
which  prevailed,  and  in  inducing  both  parties  to 
recede,  in  a  degree,  from  their  demands  and  crimi- 
nations. 

But  the  spirit  of  contention  had  become  too  in- 
veterate to  be  speedily  and  effectually  removed. 
Animosities,  though  allayed,  were  not  extinguish- 
ed. The  want  of  prudence,  and  of  a  spirit  of  for- 
bearance and  conciliation,  was  manifested,  in  a 
lamentable  degree,  by  both  parties.  And  it  be- 
came, in  a  little  while,  apparent,  that  much  more 
remained  to  be  done,  before  peace  and  harmony 
could  be  restored. 

Hitherto  these  contentions  had  been  confined  to 
the  members  of  the  congregation.  The  pastors, 
though  known  to  have  opinions  on  the  several 
subjects  which  became  grounds  of  uneasiness,  had 
as  yet  been  able  to  stand,  in  a  great  measure,  aloof 
from  the  contention,  and  to  maintain  a  good  under- 
standing with  both  parties.  This,  however,  in 
some  measure,  ceased  to  be  the  case  in  1753.  In 
that  year,  tlie  party  favourable  to  strict  Presbyterian 
discipline,  and  to  the  old  version  of  Psalms,  began 
to  prefer  complaints  against  the  ministers,  as  well 
as  against  llieir  opponents  in  the  congregation. 
They  complained  of  the  ministers — For  giving 
exhortations  at  funerals,  when  requested  by  the 
friends  of  deceased  persons  to  do  so: — For  not 
paying  formal  ministerial  visits,  according  to  the 
usage  of  the  Church  of  Scotland: — For  making 
the  introductory  prayer,  in  public  worship,  read- 
ing the  Scriptures,  and  giving  out  the  first  Psalm, 
from  the  clerk's  desk,  instead  of  the  pulpit:  and 
finally,  for  secretly  favouring  the  introduction  of 
the  new  system  of  psalmody.     These  complaints 


CHURCH   IN   NEW    YORK.  109 

were  laid  before  the  Presbytery,  together  with 
some  new  grounds  of  uneasiness  which  had  arisen 
among  the  people  themselves ;  and  were,  by  that 
body,  as  in  the  former  instance,  referred  to  the 
Synod  of  New  York,  which  met  in  Philadelphia, 
in  tlie  beginning  of  October,  1753.  The  Synod 
after  hearing  the  reference,  appointed  a  large  and 
respectable  committee  of  their  body  to  meet  in 
New  York,  on  tbe  24th  day  of  the  same  month, 
to  examine  and  decide  upon  all  the  grounds  of 
uneasiness  which  had  been  exhibited  to  them. 
The  commillee  met  on  the  day  appointed;  and 
after  a  full  and  patient  hearing  of  all  parties,  com- 
pletely exculpated  the  ministers  from  the  charges 
preferred  against  them;  and  decided  with  much 
wisdom  on  all  the  other  grounds  of  mutual  com- 
plaint between  the  different  parlies  in  the  congre- 
gation. And  having  exhorted  the  parties,  with 
great  solemnity  and  tenderness,  to  lay  aside  all 
animosity,  and  to  study  the  things  which  make  for 
peace,  they  adjourned  till  the  next  morning. 

The  next  day  Mr.  Pemberton  and  Mr.  Gum- 
ming appeared  before  the  committee  of  Synod, 
and  requested  to  be  dismissed  from  their  pastoral 
charge.  The  reasons  which  they  assigned  for  this 
request  were,  the  unhappy  divisions  subsisting 
among  the  people;  the  appearances  of  dissatisfac- 
tion on  the  part  of  the  people  toward  them ;  and 
the  small  prospect  of  success,  under  these  circum- 
stances, in  their  future  ministrations.  In  addition 
to  these  considerations,  Mr.  Gumming  urged  ihe 
feeble  and  declining  state  of  his  health,  which  ren- 
dered him  altogether  incapable  of  fulfilling  the 
duties  of  his  oflice. 

Mr.  Gumming's  situation  forbidding  delay,  the 
conamittee  granted  his  request,  and,  on  the  25ih 


II Q  HISTORY  OF   THE 

day  of  October,  1753,  dissolved  the  pastoral  rela- 
tion which  he  had  borne  about  three  years.  His 
dismission  was  a  most  honourable  one,  and  was 
accompanied  with  ample  testimonials  of  his  excel- 
lent Christian,  and  ministerial  standing.*  Mr. 
Pemberton,  being  in  good  health,  and  having  en- 
deared himself  by  a  long  and  useful  residence  of 
twenty-six  years  with  the  congregation,  the  oppo- 
sition made  to  his  dismission  was  warmer  and 
more  serious :  so  great,  indeed,  was  the  opposi- 
tion, that  the  committee  of  Synod  determined  not 
to  comply  with  his  request  immediately;  but  ad- 
vised him  to  remain  one  month  longer  with  the 
congregation,  and  in  case  he  should  see  no  pros- 
pect, at  the  end  of  that  time,  of  comfort  and  use- 
fulness in  his  pastoral  charge,  they  declared  him 
at  liberty  to  retire,  and,  in  this  way,  gave  him  a 
kind  of  conditional  dismission.  He  submitted  to 
the  judgment  of  the  committee,  and  made  the  fur- 
ther trial  which  they  proposed ;  but  when  the 
month  was  expired,  he  left  the  city,  to  the  great 
grief  of  a  majority  of  the  congregation,  who  con- 
sidered the  reasons  for  his  departure  as  by  no 
means  suflicient. 

The  congregation  were  deeply  affected  with  this 
dispensation  of  Providence,  in  being  deprived  of 
both  their  ministers  at  once  ;  and  also  with  the 
unhappy  divisions  which  had  led  to  this  hereave- 

*  Mr.  Cummino^,  after  being  liberated  from  his  pastoral 
charge  in  New  York,  received  a  call  Ironi  the  Old  South 
church,  in  Boston,  to  be  a  colleague  with  their  aged  and 
venerable  pastor,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Sewall.  He  accepted  the 
call;  and  r(!sided  in  Boston,  with  honour  to  himself,  and 
with  usefulness  to  the  eliureh,  about  ten  years.  He  died 
August  25tl),  17(i3,  greatly  respected,  and  universally  la- 
mented. 


CHURCH   IN   NEW   TORK.  1\\ 

ment.  They  determined,  therefore,  in  their  con- 
gregational capacity,  to  humble  themselves  before 
God.  and  to  unite  in  special  prayer  for  the  removal 
of  their  diflicuhies.  For  this  purpose  they  set 
apart  a  day  of  humiliation,  fasting,  and  prayer,  to 
confess  their  sins  as  a  people,  and  to  implore  the 
divine  direction  in  the  choice  of  a  minister.  'I'hey 
requested  the  Presbytery  to  appoint  one  of  their 
number,  to  attend  and  conduct  the  services  of  the 
day.  Their  request  was  granted ;  a  member  of 
the  Presbytery  attended  for  the  purpose  ;  and  the 
31st  of  December,  1753,  was  accordingly  observed 
in  this  manner,  with  great  solemnity.  After  the 
public  exercises  of  the  day  were  closed,  due  notice 
of  the  design  having  been  given,  the  congregation 
proceeded  to  deliberate  on  the  propriety  of  calling 
another  minister.  They  unanimously  agreed  that 
it  was  proper  then  to  make  a  choice;  and  the  Rev. 
Joseph  Bellamy,  of  Belhlem,  in  Connecticut,  was 
accordingly  chosen.*  In  pursuance  of  this  vote,  a 
call  for  Mr.  Bellamy  was  drawn  up  and  prosecu- 
ted, with  the  concurrence  of  the  Presbytery;  but 
he  declined  accepting  it.  At  the  instance  of  a 
number  of  the  congregation,  especially  of  those 

*  The  Rev.  Joseph  Bellamy,  D.  D.  was  born  at  New 
Cheshire,  Connecticut,  in  1719,  and  was  graduated  at  Yale 
college,  in  1735.  He  was  ordained  to  the  work  of  the 
gospel  ministry,  and  installed  pastor  of  the  church  in  Beth- 
1cm,  in  1740,  and  died  March  6th,  1790,  in  the  seventy-se- 
cond year  of  liis  age.  The  eminent  talents ;  the  ardent 
piety ;  the  indefatigable  labours ;  the  numerous  publica- 
tions ;  and  the  great  ministerial  usefulness  of  Dr.  Bellamy, 
are  too  well  known  to  require  the  language  of  eulogium 
in  this  place.  Dr.  Rodgcrs,  after  he  came  to  New  York, 
was  well  acquainted  with  him,  and  greatly  honoured  him, 
as  a  man  of  strong,  original  powers;  as  an  able  divine; 
and  as  an  eminently  devoted  minister  of  Jesus  Christ. 


212  HISTORY   OF  THE 

who  were  charged  with  being  the  principal  fomen- 
ters  of  division  among  them,  a  second  call  was 
prepared  and  sent  to  Mr.  Bellamy,  and  prosecuted 
with  great  zeal.  But,  that  gentleman  finding  that 
there  was  not,  still,  that  unanimity  in  the  call, 
which  might  have  been  wished,  gave,  the  second 
time,  a  negative  answer,  in  a  letter,  bearing  date 
July  18th,  1754. 

In  the  month  of  November  of  the  same  year,  the 
congregation,  as  before  related,  made  a  very  press- 
ing application  to  Mr.  Rodgers,  the  subject  of 
this  memoir,  who  then  resided  at  St.  George's, 
in  Delaware,  to  come  and  preach  to  them,  with  a 
view  to  settlement.  They  entertained  strong  hopes 
that  he  might  be  the  happy  means  of  healing  their 
divisions,  and  of  promoting  their  best  interests. 
Mr.  Rodgers,  however,  thought  it  his  duty  to  de- 
cline accepting  the  invitation,  which  he  did  by  the 
return  of  the  messenger  who  carried  it. 

In  the  month  of  January,  1755,  the  congrega- 
tion, by  the  advice  of  the  Presbytery,  gave  a  call 
to  the  Rev.  David  McGregor,*  of  Londonderry,  in 

*  The  Rev.  David  McGregor  was  born  in  Ireland.  He 
was  the  son  of  the  Rev.  James  McGregor,  who  had  the 
pastoral  charge  of  a  Presbyterian  church  in  the  north  of 
Ireland,  who  migrated  to  Massachusetts  in  1718,  and 
soon  afterwards  settled  in  New  Hampshire,  near  Haverhill, 
on  a  tract  of  land  called  Nutfieki,  but  which  he,  and  the 
families  who  migrated  and  settled  witli  him,  called  New 
Londonderry.  He  laboured  in  tlic  gospel  ministry  in  that 
place  about  ten  years,  and  died  March  5th,  1729.  He 
was  a  pious,  able,  and  faithful  minister,  whose  memory  is 
still  aticctionately  cherished  in  the  place  of  his  residence. 
His  son  David  accompanied  him  to  America,  in  the  eighth 
year  of  his  age.  He  was  ordained  to  the  work  of  the 
ministry,  in  1735;  and  was  minister  of  the  second  Pres- 
byterian church  in  New  Londonderry;  where  he  died 


CHURCH   IN   NEW   YORK.  U3 

New  Hampshire,  a  member  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Boston.  This  call  was  regularly  proseciiled  before 
his  presbytery,  which  met  at  Pelham,  in  the  month 
of  April,  of  that  year,  and  afterwards  in  Boston,  on 
the  14th  of  May  following.  Mr.  McGregor  con- 
sidering the  state  of  the  church  in  New- York  as 
highly  unfavourable  both  to  the  comfort  and  use- 
fulness of  a  minister,  felt  himself  constrained  to 
give  an  answer  in  the  negative. 

These  repeated  disappointments,  while  they  al- 
most discouraged  the  congregation,  served  also  to 
humble  them,  and  to  make  them  feel  more  than 
ever  their  dependence  on  the  King  of  Zion,  for  the 
supply  of  a  pastor,  as  well  as  for  all  other  mercies. 
There  is  every  reason  to  believe,  that  dispensations 
so  painful  and  humiliating  formed  a  part  of  their 
preparation  to  receive  more  gladly  and  more  pro- 
fitably, the  minister  who  was  afterwards  provided 
for  them. 

In  the  month  of  .Tuly,  1755,  thej'-  gave  a  call 
to  the  Reverend  David  Bostwick,*  pastor  of  the 

May  30th,  1777,  in  the  67th  year  of  his  age.  He  appears 
to  have  resembled  his  father  in  his  personal  and  ministe- 
rial character. 

*  The  Reverend  David  Bostwick  was  a  native  of  Nevv- 
Milford,  Connecticut,  where  he  was  born  in  the  year  1721. 
At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  entered  Yale  College,  end  was 
graduated,  after  the  usual  course  of  study.  On  leaving 
college,  he  was  engaged  as  a  teacher,  in  an  academy  at 
Newark,  New  Jersey,  under  the  inspection  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Burr,  afterwards  president  of  the  college  of  New 
Jersey.  He  was  ordained  to  the  work  of  the  gospel  mi- 
nistry, and  installed  pastor  of  the  church  of  Jamaica,  on 
Long  Island,  October  9th,  1745.  The  sermon  on  that  oc- 
casion was  preached  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Burr,  and  afterwards 
published.  Here  Mr.  Bostwick  remained  more  than  ten 
years,  enjoying  in  a  very  high  degree  the  affection  and  re- 
spect, not  only  of  the  people  of  his  charge,  but  also  of  his 
10 


114  HISTORY  OF  THE 

church  of  Jamaica,  on  Long-Island,  a  member  of 
their  own  Presbytery.  The  people  of  Jamaica 
made  warm  and  persevering  opposition  to  the  re- 
moval of  their  minister;  and  the  divided  state  of 
the  church  in  New  York,  formed  another  obstacle 
to  his  accepting  their  call.  The  Presbytery,  on 
the  call  being  laid  before  them,  referred  a  decision 
upon  the  subject  to  the  Synod,  which  met  in  New- 
ark, in  the  month  of  September  following.  The 
Synod  appointed  a  committee  to  meet  at  Jamaica, 
on  the  29ih  of  the  next  month,  that  they  might  de- 
liberate more  at  leisure,  and  decide  with  more 
light,  than  the  whole  Synod  could  be  supposed  to 
do,  in  the  midst  of  other  business,  and  at  a  distance 
from  Mr.  Bostwick's  place  of  residence.  The 
commiltee  met  agreeably  to  appointment;  when 
the  elders,  deacons,  and  trustees  of  the  Church  in 
New^  York,  presented  a  memorial,  praying  in  the 
most  earnest,  yet  respectful  terms,  that  they  would 
not  only  put  the  call  into  Mr.  Bostwick's  hands, 
•and  favour  his  acceptance  of  it ;  but  that  they  would 
also  come  to  some  decision  respecting  the  different 
versions  of  the  book  of  Psalms,  which  had  so  long 
divided  and  agitated  the  congregation.  They  urg- 
ed, that  the  continuance  of  this  controversy  would 
be  likely  to  discourage  any  minister  from  settling 
among  them,  and  to  prove  highly  injurious,  in 
many  respects,  to  the  interests  of  religion:  but  at 

brethren  in  the  ministry,  and  the  churches  in  general. 
His  appearance  and  deportment  were  peculiarly  venerable ; 
as  a  preacher,  he  possessed  an  impressive,  commanding 
eloquence,  to  vv'hich  few  attain ;  and  the  ardour  of  his 
piety,  together  with  the  apostolic  purity  of"  his  life,  gave 
him  a  stronghold  on  public  esteem.  During  iiis  residence 
in  Jamaica,  he  rejected  several  calls  to  other  churches; 
and  was  with  great  dilliculty  persuaded  by  his  friends, 
that  it  was  his  duty  to  remove  to  New  York. 


CHURCH  IN  NEW  YORK.  115 

the  same  time,  the  memorial  expressed  an  earnest 
desire  that  the  use  of  Dr.  Watts'  version  might  be 
continued,  as  much  more  agreeable  than  any  other 
to  a  great  majority  of  the  people. 

The  committee  being  divided  with  respect  both 
to  the  call,  and  the  question  concerning  psalmody, 
and  believing  that  a  decision  of  the  latter  question 
had  not  been  committed  to  them  by  the  Synod,  de- 
termined to  refer  the  decision  of  both  questions  to 
the  regular  commission  of  Synod,  which  they  re- 
quested the  moderator  of  that  body,  who  happened 
to  be  one  of  their  own  number,  to  call  as  soon  as 
convenient.  The  commission  of  Synod  was  ac- 
cordingly convened  at  Princeton,  on  the  14th  day 
of  April,  1756;  when  the  call  was  put  into  Mr. 
Bostwick's  hands;  and  he,  having  declared  him- 
self wholly  at  a  loss  whether  it  was  his  duty  to  ac- 
cept or  reject  it,  the  commission,  after  a  full  hear- 
ing of  the  persons  appointed  to  represent  the  con- 
gregations of  New  York  and  Jamaica,  respectively, 
decided  in  favour  of  his  removal  to  New  York.  In 
this  decision  Mr.  Bostwiek  acquiesced;  and  his 
pastoral  relation  to  the  church  of  Jamaica  was 
thereupon  dissolved. 

Mr.  Bostwiek  shortly  after  removed  his  family 
to  the  city,  and  entered  on  his  new  charge.  Pos- 
sessing pulpit  talents  superior  to  most  of  his  bre- 
thren, he  was  a  very  popular  preacher;  and  his 
piety  and  prudence,  which  were  no  less  conspi- 
cuous, rendered  him  highly  acceptable  to  the  people 
of  his  charge,  and  to  the  city  in  general.  The  re- 
sult of  this  choice  proved  as  favourable  as  the  most 
sanguine  expectations  of  its  friends. 

Still,  however,  a  small  part  of  the  congregation 
remained  incurably  dissatisfied  with  the  system  of 
psalmody  which  the  majority  chose  to  adopt,  and 


\\Q  HISTORY  OF  THE 

with  some  other  grounds  of  smaller,  but  serious, 
uneasiness.  On  these  subjects  the  minority  made 
their  final  application  to  the  Synod,  which  met  in 
the  month  of  September,  1756.  This  application, 
in  the  judgment  of  the  Synod,  was  made  in  terms 
by  no  means  delicate:  accordingly  that  body,  after 
a  gentle  animadversion  on  the  offensiveness  of  the 
manner  adopted  by  the  applicants,  referred  them 
to  their  previous  decisions  on  the  subjects  in 
question,  which  they  saw  no  reason  to  rescind  or 
alter.  This  anwer  being  considered  as  final,  a 
number  of  the  dissatisfied  brethren  withdrew  ;  form- 
ed themselves  into  a  separate  congregation;  and 
made  application  for  supplies  to  two  ministers 
who  had  recently  arrived  from  Scotland,  and  who 
belonged  to  one  of  the  branches  of  the  secession 
from  the  establishment  in  that  country.  After  some 
time,  this  newly  formed  society  gave  a  call  to  the 
Reverend  John  Mason,  of  Scotland,  to  be  their 
minister.*     Mr.  Mason  accepted  the  call,  and  ar- 

*  The  Rev.  John  Mason,  D.  D.  was  born  at  Mid  Calder, 
near  Edinburgh,  in  the  year  1734.  He  was  connected 
with  that  branch  of  the  secession  in  Scotland  known  by 
the  name  of  Antiburghers.  By  a  Presbytery  in  that  con- 
nexion, he  was  licensed,  and  not  long  afterwards  ordained, 
with  a  view  to  his  taking  the  pastoral  charge  of  a  congre- 
gation in  New  York  ;  wlierc  he  arrived,  as  above  stated, 
in  June,  1761,  and  wlierc  he  was,  in  a  short  time  there- 
after, installed.  Dr.  Mason  was  a  man  of  a  sound,  strong 
mind,  ofextensive  learning,  and  of  unusually  fervent  piety. 
His  scholarship  was  rare.  He  had  so  habituated  himself 
to  classical  studies,  that,  at  the  age  of  twenty,  he  spoke 
the  Latin  language,  on  all  tlic  higher  subjects  of  discourse, 
such  as  history,  philosophy,  and  theology,  with  equal  ease, 
and  greater  elegance,  than  his  mother  tongue.  In  Greek 
his  proficiency  was  l)ut  litlle  inferior;  and  he  was  fami- 
liar witli  the  Hebrew.  At  the  age  of  twenty  four,  he 
taught  Logic  and  Moral  Philosophy,  with  reputation,  in  the 


CHURCH  IN  NEW  YORK.  1  17 

rived  in  New  York  in  the  month  of  June,  1761. 
He  immediately  entered  on  the  duties  of  his  new 
station.  And  although  his  congregation  was,  at 
first,  small  and  feeble,  to  a  discouraging  degree ; 
yet,  under  the  smiles  of  the  great  Head  of  the 
Church  on  his  pre-eminently  judicious  and  faith- 
ful ministrations,  it  soon  rose  to  respectability  and 
importance. 

This  secession  restored  peace  to  the  parent 
church.  Such  of  the  dissatisfied  brethren  as  did 
not  choose  to  withdraw,  sat  down  quietly  under 

Tlieological  Seminary  of  the  Antiburghers,  at  Abernethy. 
His  lectures  were  in  Latin. — As  a  preacher,  lie  was  un- 
commonly judicious  and  instructive;  as  a  pastor, singularly 
faithful  and  diligent;  and  as  a  friend  and  companion,  he 
displayed  an  assemblage  of  excellencies  rarely  found  in  so 
great  a  degree  in  one  person.  Few  ministers  have  ever 
lived  in  New  York,  in  so  high  esteem,  or  died  so  generally 
and  deeply  lamented.  He  left  the  world  "  in  the  calm 
sunshine  of  gospel  hope,"  on  the  19th  day  of  April,  1792. 
Dr.  Rodgers  was  much  attached  to  this  excellent  man ;  and 
considered  his  intimacy  with  him  as  one  of  the  greatest 
social  privileges  of  his  life.  He  seldom  mentioned  his  name 
without  expressions  of  respect  and  affection  of  the  most 
pointed  and  tender  kind.  The  following  testimony  of  re- 
gard from  the  pen  of  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Linn,  who  knew 
Dr.  Mason  well,  and  who  was  capable  of  appreciating  his 
character,  is  worthy  of  being  transcribed.  "  I  shall  be  ex- 
cused here  in  paying  a  small  tribute  of  respect  to  the  me- 
mory of  a  man  who  was  my  neighbour  and  my  friend ; 
whom  I  knew  too  late ;  and  of  whose  value  I  was  hardly 

sensible  until  I  experienced  his  loss He  had  prudence 

without  cunning,  cheerfulness  without  levity,  dignity 
without  pride,  friendship  without  ceremony,  charity  with- 
out undue  latitude,  and  religion  without  ostentation.  The 
congregation  which  he  served  have  erected  a  handsome 
monument  to  his  memory  ;  but  the  most  honourable  mo- 
nument, is  the  place  he  holds  in  their  hearts,  and  tiie  last- 
ing esteem  of  all  who  knew  him." — Signs  of  the  Times, 
p.  143,  note. 


WQ  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Mr.  Bostwick's  ministry,  which  was  soon  blessed 
to  the  increase  and  prosperity  of  the  congregation. 
In  1756,  about  the  time  of  the  secession  above 
stated,  the  congregation  met  with  a  serious  loss  in 
the  withdrawing  of  a  single  member.  Mr.  John 
Noble,  a  native  of  England,  and  a  man  of  eminent 
piety,  had  been  for  many  years  an  active  and  use- 
ful member  of  the  church,  and  about  four  years 
before,  had  been  chosen  and  set  apart  as  one  of  its 
ruling  elders.  In  this  office  his  activity  and  use- 
fulness were  both  increased.  His  great  wealth  en- 
abled him  to  do  more  than  most  others  ;  and  he 
promised  to  be  a  rich  blessing  to  the  church.  But, 
amidst  these  favourable  prospects,  in  the  year 
above  mentioned,  he  left  the  Presbyterian  church, 
and  joined  the  Moravians,  or  United  Brethren. 
The  circumstances  which  led  to  this  change  of  sen- 
timent, and  of  religious  connexion,  are  now  un- 
known. It  is  believed  that  an  occasional  visit  to 
Bethlehem  paved  the  way,  or  at  least  was  not  with- 
out its  influence.  However  this  may  be,  his  se- 
cession, in  the  then  divided  and  comparatively  en- 
feebled state  of  the  church,  was  a  serious  loss ; 
and  laid  the  foundation  of  the  society  of  United 
Brethren  in  the  city  of  New  York. 

In  the  year  1759,  the  officers  of  the  church 
made  application,  a  third  time,  for  a  charter.  To 
this  step  they  were  encouraged  by  several  circum- 
stances, which  appeared  favourable  to  their  design, 
particularly  by  the  declarations  of  Mr.  Delancey, 
the  lieutenant  governor,  who  then  held  the  reins  of 
administration,  and  who  had  frequently  expressed 
his  abhorrence  of  the  illiberal  and  unjust  refusal 
which  their  former  applications  had  met.  But, 
notwithstanding  every  favourable  appearance,  so 
zealous  and  persevering  was  the  opposition  made 


CHURCH   IN  NEW  YORE.  119 

by  the  Episcopal  church,  that  the  applicants  were, 
a  third  time,  defeated. 

This  disappointment,  in  not  obtaining  a  charter, 
was  the  more  serious,  because,  about  this  time, 
some  circumstances  occurred  which  showed  not 
only  the  great  inconvenience,  but  also  the  solid  loss 
which  they  sustained,  in  consequence  of  the  legal 
disability  thence  arising.  In  the  year  1750,  Cap- 
tain Jeremiah  Owen,  a  native  of  England,  who 
had  long  been  an  exemplary  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church  in  New  York,  died,  and  left  a  le- 
gacy of  seven  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  the  inter- 
est of  which  he  directed  to  be  applied  annually 
toward  the  instruction  of  poor  children  of  that 
congregation,  in  reading,  writing,  and  the  use  of 
figures.  The  gentlemen  named  as  executors  by 
Captain  Owen  in  his  will  declining  to  act,  for  rea- 
sons now  unknown,  letters  of  administration,  with 
the  will  annexed,  were  granted  to  Rebecca  Shourt 
and  Gabriel  Ludlow,  of  whom  the  latter  was  the 
acting  administrator.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Espiscopal  church.  This  legacy,  of  course,  with 
the  other  portions  of  tlie  testator's  estate,  came 
into  Mr.  Ludlow's  hands.  The  gentlemen  who 
were  in  the  habit  of  managing  the  temporal  con- 
cerns of  the  Presbyterian  church,  called  soon  after- 
ward on  Mr,  Ludlow,  and  requested  the  payment 
of  the  money.  He  declined  complying  with  their 
request,  alleging  that,  as  the  church  was  not  in- 
corporated, no  person  or  body  of  persons  could 
legally  receive  the  legacy,  or  give  him  a  discharge 
for  the  same.  The  applicants,  not  knowing  how 
to  remove  this  difficulty,  suspended  the  prosecu- 
tion of  their  claim  until  some  more  favourable  op- 
portunity might  arise. 

h\  the  mean  time,  the  vestry  of  Trinity  church, 


120 


HISTORY   OF   THE 


being  informed  of  the  legacy,  and  that  the  trustees 
of  the  Presbyterian  church  had  applied  for  it  in 
vain,  made  every  effort  to  get  it  out  of  Mr.  Lud- 
low's hands,  and  appropriate  it  to  their  own  use. 
They  entreated,  remonstrated,  and  threatened,  but 
without  success.  Mr.  Ludlow  declared  that,  al- 
though he  was  a  zealous  Episcopalian,  yet,  as  the 
money  was  committed  to  him  in  trust,  and  for  a 
very  different  purpose,  they  should  never  possess 
it,  unless  they  took  it  from  him  by  force.  Find- 
ing his  honesty  and  honour  too  inflexible  to  admit 
the  hope  of  getting  the  legacy  into  their  hands, 
the  vestry  next  proposed  to  Mr.  Ludlow  that  he 
should  send  those  children,  the  expense  of  whose 
education  the  interest  of  the  legacy  would  defray, 
to  their  charity  school,  where  they  might  be  in- 
structed at  the  ordinary  rate.  But  this  proposal 
also  Mr.  Ludlow  pointedly  rejected,  observing, 
that  Captain  Owen  was  a  Presbyterian,  of  long 
standing,  and  of  known  principle;  and  that,  al- 
though he  had  not  mentioned  it,  or  made  it  one  of 
the  conditions  in  his  will,  it  doubtless  was  his  in- 
tention, that  the  children  instructed  by  means  of 
his  legacy,  should  be  educated  in  the  Presbyterian 
faith,  and  attend  the  Presbyterian  church  :  whereas, 
if  the  proposal  of  the  vestry  were  accepted^  the 
children  instructed  at  their  school  must,  of  neces- 
sity, attend  their  church.  The  members  of  the 
vestry  appointed  to  conduct  this  negotiation,  by 
way  of  answer  to  these  remarks,  asked  him,  some- 
what tartly,  "Are  yon  not  a  churchman,  sir?" 
"  Yes,"  he  replied,  "  I  am  a  churchman ;  but  I 
am  also  an  honest  man,  and  am  determined  to  ful- 
fil the  intention  of  Captain  Owen  to  the  best  of  my 
knowledge  and  al)ility." 

The   vestry  at  length,  despairing   of  success, 


CHURCH   IN   NEW   YORK.  121 

abandoned  the  pursuit  of  this  legacy;  and  it  re- 
mained a  number  of  years  in  Mr-  Ludlow's  hands. 
This  gentleman,  however,  with  characteristic  pro- 
bity and  honour,  though  he  could  not  pay  it  to  any 
corporation,  nor  to  any  body  of  persons  entitled  by 
law  to  receive  it,  determined  to  employ  it,  while 
in  his  hands,  most  rigidly  in  conformity  with  the 
will  of  the  testator.  He  was,  therefore,  in  the 
habit,  for  near  ten  years,  of  selecting  poor  Presby- 
terian children,  placing  them  under  the  care  of 
Presbyterian  school-masters,  and  defraying  the  ex- 
penses of  their  instruction  with  the  avails  of  this 
legacy.  Things  continued  in  this  state  until  the 
year  1765,  when  Mr.  Rodgers  became  the  pastor 
of  the  church;  and  when  the  bequest  of  Capt. 
Owen  was  destined  to  become  the  foundation  of 
an  important  charity-school  establishment.* 

In  the  year  1762,  Capt.  John  Neilsont  be- 
queathed, by  will,  "  to  the  Presbyterian  church  in 
New  York,"  the  sum  of  two  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars.  Soon  after  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
the  same  year,  the  trustees  called  on  his  acting 

*  Soon  after  the  appearance  of  the  first  edition  of  this 
memoir,  the  above  statement  respecting  Capt.  Owen's 
legacy,  and  some  other  passages  in  the  memoir,  were 
warmly  assailed,  and  their  correctness  denied,  by  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Y.  How,  D.  D.,  then  one  of  the  ministers  of  Tri- 
nity Church,  New  York.  The  author  only  thinks  proper 
to  say,  tliat  he  has  not  considered  Dr.  How's  representa- 
tions as  calling  for  the  retraction  or  modification  of  a  sen- 
tence which  he  had  written,  excepting  in  a  single  instance 
of  no  importance. 

t  Capt.  Neilson  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  a  respectable  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  in  New  York.  He  commanded  a  merchant  ship, 
in  Uie  European  trade,  in  which  he  was  blown  up  on  the 
coast  of  France,  in  the  year  above  mentioned,  and  with  his 
whole  crew,  perished. 


J  22  HISTORY   OF   THE 

executor,  Mr.  Waddell  Cunningham,  for  the  pay- 
ment of  the  legacy.  The  answer  of  Mr.  Cunning- 
ham was,  that  the  law  knew  no  such  body  as  the 
"  Presbyterian  church  in  New  York,"  and  that  the 
money  would  not  be  paid.  The  trustees,  conscious 
that  they  had  no  power  to  compel  payment,  qui- 
etly submitted  to  the  insult,  as  well  as  the  injus- 
tice which  attended  the  refusal.  Nor  was  the 
money  paid  until  more  than  twenty  years  after- 
wards, when  the  congregation  having  obtained  a 
charter,  a  gentleman  who  had  been  connected  in 
trade  with  Mr.  Cunningham,  offered  to  pay  the 
principal  sum,  provided  the  trustees  would  relin- 
quish the  interest  due  thereon.  This  offer  they 
thought  proper  to  accept,  and  received  the  legacy 
accordingly. 

The  recurrence  of  such  events  as  these  rendered 
the  trustees  extremely  anxious  to  obtain  a  charter; 
and  they  repeated  their  application  for  that  pur- 
pose on  every  occasion  which  seemed  to  afford  the 
least  gleam  of  hope  that  they  might  succeed.  But 
as  often  as  they  renewed  their  exertions,  opposi- 
tion was  made  from  the  old  quarter,  and  always 
proved  effectual. 

The  congregation,  as  yet,  had  no  house  of  their 
own  for  the  residence  of  their  minister.  In  the 
month  of  May,  1762,  they  purchased  a  parsonage, 
and  gave  the  use  of  it  to  Mr.  Bostwick,  as  an  ad- 
dition to  his  stated  salary.  This  property  also, 
for  want  of  a  charter,  they  were  obliged  to  convey 
to  certain  individuals,  to  be  held  in  trust  for  the 
congregation. 

Although  Mr.  Bostwick  was  highly  acceptable 
and  popular ;  yet,  as  his  health  was  so  delicate  as 
to  impair,  in  a  considerable  degree,  his  capacity 
for  active  service,  the  congregation  judged  an  addi- 


CHURCH   IN   NEW   YORK,  123 

lional  minister  to  be  necessary;  and  accordingly, 
in  the  month  of  October,  1762,  they  gave  a  call  to 
the  Rev.  Joseph  Treat,  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
tery of  New  Brunswick,  to  become  their  pastor,  in 
connexion  with  Mr.  Bostwick.  Mr.  Treat  ac- 
cepted their  call;  and  being  without  a  pastoral 
charge,  immediately  entered  on  his  ministry  with 
them.     He  was  a  popular  and  useful  preacher. 

In  the  month  of  November,  1763,  Mr.  Bostwick 
was  removed  by  death,  after  an  illness  of  a  few 
days.  He  viras  highly  esteemed  and  revered,  while 
he  lived,  not  only  by  the  people  of  his  own  charge, 
but  by  the  churches,  and  his  fellow-citizens  in 
general;  and  his  death  was  sincerely  and  justly 
lamented. 

Mr.  Treat  survived  Mr.  Bostwick ;  but  another 
minister  being  thought  necessary,  for  a  congrega- 
tion so  large  and  important,  a  call  was  voted,  in 
the  spring  of  the  year  1764,  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  John 
Murray,  a  preacher  from  the  north  of  Ireland,  and 
a  man  of  popular  talents,  to  be  a  colleague  with 
Mr.  Treat.  But  the  want  of  unanimity,  together 
with  some  other  considerations  of  a  personal  nature, 
induced  Mr.  Murray  to  reject  the  call. 

In  the  month  of  January,  1765,  as  before  stated, 
the  congregation  gave  a  unanimous  and  affectionate 
call  to  the  subject  of  this  memoir.  The  circum- 
stances and  the  result  of  this  call,  were  detailed  in 
a  preceding  chapter;  and  introduce  us  to  that  por- 
tion of  the  history  of  the  Church  in  New  York, 
which  is  inseparably  connected  with  the  life  of 
Mr.  Rodgers,  and  wliich  will  be  found  detailed  in 
the  following  chapters.* 

*  The  foregoing  history  of  the  church  of  New  York,  is 
compiled  from  documents,  which  were  prepared  by  Dr. 


124  ^^^   YORK. 


CHAPTER  V. 

From  his  removal  to  the  city  of  New  York,  till  the  com- 
mencement of  the  Revolutionary  War, 

Mr.  Rodgers  arrived  in  New  York,  as  before 
stated,  to  enter  on  his  pastoral  duties  there,  on  the 
24th  day  of  July,  1765.  He  was  received  by  the 
people  of  his  new  charge  with  great  respect  and 
affection  ;  and  with  no  less  cordiality  by  the  Pres- 
bytery of  New  York,  which  convened  at  Spring- 
field, New  Jersey,  on  the  20th  of  August,  for  the 
purpose  of  receiving  him,  and  appointed  his  instal- 
lation to  take  place  on  the  4th  day  of  September 
following.  In  the  installation  solemnities  the  Rev. 
Timothy  Johnes,  of  Morristown,  the  oldest  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbytery,  presided,  and  the  Rev. 
James  Caldwell,  of  Elizabelhtown,  preached  the 
sermon.  Mr.  Rodgers  often  spoke  of  that  day,  as 
one  in  which  the  tenderest  regrets  for  the  people 
he  had  recently  left,  and  the  most  grateful  affection 
for  the  marked  kindness  and  attachment  of  those 
to  whose  service  he  then  devoted  himself,  pro- 
duced a  singular  conflict  in  his  mind. 

Formed  for  activity,  and  prompted  to  diligence 
in  his  appropriate  functions,  as  well  by  tempera- 
ment and  habit,  as  by  a  strong  sense  of  duty,  Mr. 
Rodgers  immediately  transferred  to  the  new  sphere 
of  action  in  which  it  had  pleased  God  to  place  him, 

Rodgers  himself,  and  put  into  the  hands  of  the  writer  of 
this  volume,  several  years  before  his  decease.  On  this 
authority  all  the  facts  in  tlie  preceding  chapter  rest,  ex- 
cepting those  for  which  some  other  is  distinctly  quoted; 
and  excepting  also  the  notes,  for  which  the  writer  alone 
is  responsible. 


NEW    YORK.  125 

the  ardent  zeal,  and  the  tender  pastoral  anxieties 
and  assiduities,  which  he  had  long  displayed  toward 
another  flock.  The  disadvantage  arising  from  the 
material  difference,  in  several  respects,  between  a 
country  and  city  charge,  was  soon  surmounted  by 
him:  or  rather,  happy  in  a  style  of  manners  pecu- 
liarly adapted  to  a  polished  and  populous  city,  he 
at  once  found  himself  at  home  as  pastor  of  the 
church  in  New  York. 

He  had  not  been  many  weeks  in  this  new  sta- 
tion, before  he  began  to  direct  to  the  catechetical 
instruction  of  the  children  and  young  people  under 
his  care,  the  same  particular  and  unwearied  atten- 
tion, which  he  had  found  so  beneficial  in  St. 
George's.  Besides  collecting  the  younger  child- 
ren, once  a  week,  and  hearing  tliem  recite  the 
Assembly's  Shorter  Catechism,  accompanied  with 
prayer,  and  an  extemporaneous  exhortation,  as 
before,  he  instituted  a  more  public  lecture  on  the 
same  catechism,  which  was  held  on  Thursday 
evening  in  each  week,  designed  for  the  instruction 
of  the  elder  classes  of  children;  but  which  was 
generally  attended  by  as  many,  of  all  ages,  as 
could  be  accommodated  in  the  building  in  which 
it  was  held.  These  two  services  he  continued, 
with  persevering  diligence,  until  within  a  few  years 
of  his  decease;  when  his  growing  infirmities  com- 
pelled liim  to  yield  them  to  his  colleagues.  He 
had  a  deep  impression  of  the  importance  of  cate- 
chetical instruction;  which  he  embraced  every  op- 
portunity of  endeavouring  to  urge,  especially  on 
his  younger  brethren  in  the  ministry.  And  he 
often  declared  that,  as  far  as  he  was  able  to  judge, 
the  familiar,  but  systematic,  doctrinal  instruction, 
accompanied  with  a  warm  practical  application, 
which  he  always  aimed  to  give  in  his  Thursday 


126  '"^^    YORK. 

evening  lectures,  had  been  more  signally  blessed 
to  ihe  spiritual  benefit  of  his  people,  than  any 
other  part  of  his  ministrations. 

Mr.  Rodgers  also  encouraged  the  establishment 
of  private  associations  for  prayer,  in  different  parts 
of  the  congregation,  which  accordingly,  soon  after 
his  arrival  in  New  York,  were  considerably  mul- 
tiplied, and  which  he  countenanced  by  his  pre- 
sence, as  often  as  his  numerous  engagements  per- 
mitted. A  short  time  previous  to  the  decease  of 
Mr.  Bostwick,  the  means  of  grace  had  been  at- 
tended with  a  more  than  common  blessing  in  the 
congregation;  and  although  this  partial  revival  had, 
in  some  measure,  declined,  previous  to  Mr.  Rod- 
gers' arrival,  still  a  portion  of  its  happy  influence 
remained ;  so  that  the  minds  of  the  people  were,  in 
a  considerable  degree,  prepared  to  give  a  favourable 
reception  to  any  proposals  which  had  for  their  ob- 
ject the  promotion  of  Christian  knowledge  and 
piety.  This  circumstance  both  facilitated  the  in- 
troduction, and  was,  no  doubt,  a  means  of  contri- 
buting to  the  efficacy,  of  those  new  plans  and  la- 
bours for  the  advancement  of  religion,  to  which 
Mr.  Rodgers'  settlement  in  New  York  gave  rise. 

These  plans  and  labours  were  crowned  with 
success.  By  the  divine  blessing  upon  them  a  con- 
siderable revival  of  religion  almost  immediately 
ensued.  The  congregation  rapidly  increased.  The 
assemblies  for  the  worship  of  God  were  crowded. 
Many  were  awakened  to  serious  thoughtfulness ; 
and  a  large  number  were  brought,  as  was  hoped, 
to  a  saving  knowledge  of  the  truth. 

In  the  course  of  the  Aimily  visitations  which 
Mr.  Rodgers  early  commenced,  and  for  many 
years  faithfully  maintained,  he  discovered  a  num- 
ber of  poor  children,  belonging  to  the  congrega- 


NEW   YORK.  127 

tion,  who  were  growing  up  witliout  any  suilable 
education,  and  witliout  the  means  of  obtaining  it. 
He  immediately  reported  their  cases  to  the  officers 
of  the  church,  and  inquired  whether  there  were  no 
practicable  means  of  putting  such  children  to  school, 
and  preparing  them  for  usefulness  in  life.  The 
church  officers  informed  him  of  Captain  Owen's 
legacy;*  of  the  exertions  which  had  been  made  to 
obtain  and  apply  it,  according  to  the  will  of  the 
testator;  and  of  the  circumstances  in  which  it  was 
then  placed.  Mr.  Rodgers,  with  that  ardour  and 
promptness  for  which  he  was  remarkable,  went  im- 
mediately to  Mr.  Ludlow,  and  made  a  new  and  ur- 
gent application  for  the  payment  of  the  legacy. 
Mr.  Ludlow,  in  the  same  spirit  which  he  had  al- 
ways manifested,  assured  him,  that  he  had  long 
been  desirous  to  be  able  to  put  the  money  in 
question  lawfully  and  safely  out  of  his  hands;  that 
he  was  still  so;  and  that  if  any  method  could  be 
devised  of  applying  it  to  the  object  which  Capt. 
Owen  had  in  view,  and  of  indemnifying  himself,  he 
should  most  cordially  consent  to  its  adoption.  Af- 
ter repeated  conlerenceson  the  subject,  Mr.  Ludlow 
at  length  agreed  to  pay  the  legacy  to  the  treasurer 
of  the  church,  provided  six  of  the  principal  mem- 
bers of  the  congregation  would  give  him  a  bond  of 
indemnity  against  all  future  claimants.  This  me- 
thod of  accommodation  was  adopted ;  the  bond 
was  given,  and  the  money  paid,  in  the  year  1766. 
'I'he  gentlemen  who  had  given  the  bond.t  imme- 
diately invested,  and  began  to  apply  the  legacy,  in 

*  See  the  preceding  chapter,  page  119. 

t  These  gentlemen  were  selected  by  Mr.  Ludlow  him- 
self, and  were  the  following,  Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston, 
William  Livingston,  William  Smith,  John  Morin  Scott, 
Alexander  McDougall,  and  Joseph  IlaJlett. 


J  28  ^^^    YORK. 

such  manner  as  they  judged  most  conformable  to 
its  benevolent  design. 

When  Mr.  Rodgers  entered  on  his  pastoral 
charge  in  New  York,  he  found  several  customs 
established  in  the  church,  which  by  no  means  met 
his  approbation.  Among  these,  was  the  practice 
of  making  the  introductory  prayer  in  public  wor- 
ship, reading  the  Scriptures,  and  giving  out  the 
first  psalm,  from  the  clerk's  desk,  instead  of  the 
pulpit.  This  had  been,  for  many  years,  a  subject 
of  complaint  with  a  portion  of  the  congregation; 
but  a  majority  being  in  favour  of  the  practice,  it 
had  been  continued.  Mr.  Rodgers,  without  con- 
sulting the  eldership,  determined,  on  his  own  re- 
sponsibility, to  lay  it  aside,  and  to  perform  the 
whole  service  in  the  pulpit;  which  he  did  ever  af- 
terwards. This  measure  created  some  dissatis- 
faction, for  a  time,  among  a  few  leading  members 
of  the  church ;  but  such  were  the  popularity  and 
success  of  his  ministrations,  and  such  his  influence 
among  the  people,  that  the  unpleasant  feelings  ex- 
pressed on  the  occasion,  by  these  individuals,  were 
but  little  regarded  by  the  body  of  the  congregation, 
and  soon  entirely  ceased  to  be  manifested. 

Mr.  Rodgers  had  not  been  many  months  in  New 
York,  when  it  was  found,  that  his  labours  had  been 
so  much  blessed  to  the  increase  of  the  congrega- 
tion, both  in  numbers,  and  in  zeal,  that  it  was  ne- 
cessary to  erect  a  new  place  of  worship.  Mea- 
sures were  accordingly  taken  for  this  purpose, 
early  in  the  spring  of  the  year  1766.  A  lot  of 
ground,  at  the  corner  of  Beekman  and  Nassau 
streets,  was  procured,  from  the  corporation  of  the 
city,  on  a  perpetual  lease.  The  foundation  of  a 
new  church  was  laid  in  the  autumn  of  the  same 
year.     The  work  was  prosecuted   with   vigour; 


NEW   YORK.  129 

and  in  about  fifteen  months  the  edifice  was  com- 
pleted. 

As  JVIr.  Ivodgers,  by  liis  popular  and  unwearied 
pastoral  labours,  had  been  the  means  of  rendering 
this  enterprise  necessary  ;  so  his  ardent  and  inde- 
fatigable zeal  in  promoting  its  success,  was  equally 
conspicuous,  and  worthy  of  being  recorded.  He 
went  from  door  to  door,  for  several  months,  soli- 
citing subscriptions,  with  a  patience  and  perse- 
verance wiiich  ought  never  to  be  forgotten  by  those 
who  take  an  interest  in  the  history  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  in  New  York.  *  A  large  part  of 
the  funds  employed  in  erecting  the  edifice  in  ques- 
tion, were  collected  by  his  hands;  and  no  incon- 
siderable portion  of  tliem  obtained  by  the  weight 
of  his  professional  character. 

This  new  church  was  opened  for  public  worship 

*  The  subject  of  tliis  memoir  often  related  little  an- 
ecdotes concerning'  the  unexpected  repulses,  on  the  one 
hand,  and  the  agreeable  surprises  on  tlie  other,  which  oc- 
curred in  the  course  of  this  begging  season.  One,  of  the 
latter  class,  shall  serve  as  a  specimen.  Mr.  Rodgers,  at- 
tended by  an  officer  of  the  church,  called,  one  morning,  in 
his  soliciting  tour,  at  the  house  of  an  excellent  woman,  a 
widow,  who  had  recently  lost  by  death  a  pious  and  beloved 
daughter.  As  her  circumstances  were  narrow,  little  was 
expected  from  her.  Indeed  they  called  upon  her  chiefly 
to  testily  their  respect,  and  to  avoid  the  imputation  of 
either  forgetting  her  person,  or  despising  Jier  mite.  To 
their  great  surprise,  however,  when  iheir  errand  was 
made  known,  she  presented  to  them,  with  much  prompt, 
ness  and  eordiality,  a  sum  which,  for  her,  was  vcr}'  large; 
so  large,  indeed,  that  they  felt  and  expressed  some  scruples 
about  accepting  it.  She  put  an  end  to  their  scruples  by 
saying,  with  nmeh  decision  :  "  You  must  take  it  all ;  I 
had  laid  it  up  as  a  jjortion  for  my  daughter ;  and  I  am 
determined  that  He  who  has  my  daugiiter  sliall  have  her 
portion  too." 

11 


130  ^^'^    "VORK. 

on  the  first  clay  of  January,  1768.  The  first  ser- 
mon was  preached  in  it  by  Mr.  Rodgers,  from 
Haggai  ii.  7.  The  pews  were  all  immediately 
taken;  and  it  soon  became  abundantly  evident, 
that  the  erection  of  an  additional  church  was  nei- 
ther unnecessary  nor  premature.  The  congrega- 
tion, though  now  worshipping  in  two  buildings, 
was  still  considered  as  one  body.  The  ministers 
preached  alternately  in  each;  and  there  was  but 
one  board  of  trustees,  and  one  eldership,  for  the 
whole. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1766,  when  the 
erection  of  a  new  church  was  resolved  upon,  it 
was  judged  expedient  to  make  another  attempt  to 
obtain  a  charter.  The  inconveniences  resulting 
from  the  warit  of  it  were  found  daily  to  accumu- 
late; and  it  was  distinctly  perceived  that  the  en- 
terprise at  that  time  in  prospect,  would  serve  to 
multiply  tfiem  still  further.  Sir  Henry  Moore, 
then  governor  of  the  province,  was  friendly  to  the 
object  of  llie  applicants  ;  but  a  doubt  being  started, 
whether  his  commission  invested  him  with  incor- 
porating powers  ;  and  there  being  some  reason  to 
fear  that  a  favourable  decision  on  the  part  of  the 
council  could  not  be  depended  on;  the  officers  of 
the  church  determined  at  once  to  approach  the 
throne  with  their  request.  Accordingly,  in  the 
month  of  March,  1766,  a  petition  to  the  King  was 
drawn  up,  and  signed  by  the  ministers,  elders, 
deacons,  and  trustees,  exhibiting  the  circumstances 
of  the  case ;  stating  the  grievances  under  which 
the  church  had  long  laboured  ;  and  praying  for  a 
charter  of  incorporation.  This  petition  was  pre- 
sented by  the  agents  in  London,  who  were  em- 
ployed for  the  purpose.  The  King  laid  it  before 
his  privy  council ;  and  they  referred  it,  according 


NEW    YORK.  231 

to  the  usual  routine  of  such  business,  to  the  board 
of  trade.  That  board,  (ol'  which  Lord  Dartmouth, 
a  sincere  friend  to  tlie  application,  was  then  presi- 
dent,) wrote  to  Sir  Henry  Moore,  to  know  "  whe- 
ther the  facts  stated  in  the  petition,"  of  which  he 
was  furnished  with  a  copy,  "  were  true.''  This 
brought  the  business  before  the  governor's  council 
in  New  York,  who,  after  every  possible  delay, 
were  obliged  to  report,  that  "the  facts  stated  in 
the  petition  were  all  true."  Their  answer  was 
forwarded,  by  the  governor,  to  Lord  Dartmouth, 
without  loss  of  time  ;  but  when  the  subject  after- 
wards came  before  the  board  of  trade,  the  bishop 
of  London  appeared  twice  before  the  board,  and 
zealously  opposed  the  application.  Their  report 
to  the  King  was  unfavourable  ;  and  the  petition 
was  finally  rejected  on  the  26lh  day  of  August, 
1707.  On  receiving  notice  of  this  rejection,  the 
congregation  vested  the  title  to  the  new  church  and 
cemetery,  in  private  trustees,  as  they  had  before 
been  obliged  to  do  with  respect  to  their  parsonage 
house. 

But  amidst  all  these  discouragements,  the  church 
continued  to  increase  in  numbers  and  strength,  and 
religion  prospered.  The  number  of  new  commu- 
nicants added,  about  this  time,  was  greater  than  at 
any  period  before,  or  for  many  years  afterwards. 
And  it  is  probable  that  the  very  means  by  which 
the  miserable  calculators  of  this  world  thought  to 
oppress,  to  dishearten,  and  perhaps  to  destroy  ; 
were  made  instrumental,  by  a  sovereign  and  gra- 
cious God,  to  bind  together,  to  build  up,  and  to 
inspire  with  a  more  ardent  zeal. 

Soon  after  Mr.  Rodgers  removed  to  New  York, 
the  controversy  respecting  an  American  Episcopate 
was  at  its  greatest  heiglit.     The  leading  Episco- 


132  NEW   YORK. 

palians  of  the  American  colonies,  were  exceeding- 
ly zealous,  and  had  taken  unwearied  pains,  by  ap- 
plication to  the  spiritual  lords,  and  other  persons  of 
influence  in  Great  Britain,  to  secure  the  establish- 
ment of  diocesan  bishops  in  this  country.  This 
plan  being  regarded,  by  the  non-episcopal  inhabi- 
tants of  the  colonies,*  as  highly  dangerous  to  their 
ecclesiastical  liberties,  they  determined,  by  all  fair 
and  honourable  means,  to  oppose  it.  Their  oppo- 
sition was  firm,  persevering,  and  successful.  The 
friends  of  the  Episcopate,  notwithstanding  all  the 
zeal  and  exertions  which  they  employed  in  its  be- 
half, were  continually  disappoitited  by  difficulties 
and  delay,  until  t!ie  revolution;  which,  by  estab- 
lishing the  independence  of  the  United  States, 
efTectually  precluded  the  dangers  apprehended  from 

*  Tlie  opposition  to  an  American  Episcopate  was  not 
confined  to  non-episcopalians.  Some  zealous  members  of 
the  Episcopal  Cliurch,  and  even  some  ministers  of  that 
denomination  liad  the  wisdom  to  perceive,  and  the  mag- 
nanimity to  acknowledge,  the  dangers  likely  to  arise  from 
this  measure.  Among  the  latter  were  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gwat- 
kin,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Henly,  Episcopal  clergymen  of  Vir. 
ginia,  who  openly  opposed  the  plan,  and  wrote  against  it. 
They  both  protested  against  it  in  the  ecclesiastical  con- 
vention of  tiiat  colony,  in  1771  ;  and  afterwards  the  former 
published  a  pamphlet  with  the  same  view,  under  the  fol- 
lowing title  :  "  A  Letter  to  the  clergy  of  New  York  and 
JSew  Jersey,  occasioned  by  an  address  to  the  Episcopa- 
lians in  Virginia.  By  the  l{ev.  Thomas  (jwatkin,  profes- 
sor of  mathematics  and  natural  philosophy,  in  William 
and  Mary  College."  Williamsburgh,  1772,  4to.  pp.  28. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Bland,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hewitt,  also  Epis- 
copal clergymen  in  Virginia,  appeared  on  the  same  side. 
For  their  conduct  in  this  affair,  they  were  very  much 
hated  and  persecuted  by  the  clergy  of  their  own  denomi- 
nation ;  but  they  received  the  thanks  of  the  house  of  bur- 
gesses of  Virginia.  Sec  Pennsylvania  Gazette,  August  8, 
1771. 


NEW   YORK.  J  33 

their  scheme ;  removed  the  fears  of  their  oppo- 
nents, aiul  terminated  the  controversy. 

Among  the  measures  which  were  taken  for  de- 
feating the  plan  of  an  American  Episcopate,  and 
for  keeping  the  non-episcopal  churches  awake  to 
their  interests  and  dangers,  was  the  appointment 
of  a  general  convention,  to  compare  opinions  and 
concert  plans,  for  the  promotion  of  these  objects. 
This  convention  was  formed  of  delegates  from  the 
Synod  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  from  the 
several  Associations  of  Connecticut.  The  objects 
toward  which  its  counsels  were  directed,  to  use  its 
own  language,  were,  "  to  gain  information  of  the 
public  slate  of  the  united  cause  and  interest;  to 
collect  accounts  relating  thereto;  to  unite  endea- 
vours and  counsels  for  spreading  the  gospel,  and 
preserving  the  religious  liberties  of  our  churches  ; 
to  diffuse  harmony,  and  keep  up  a  correspondence, 
throughout  the  united  body  ;  and  with  our  friends 
abroad,  to  recommend,  cultivate,  and  preserve, 
loyalty  and  allegiance  to  the  king's  majesty;  and 
also  to  address  the  king,  and  the  king's  ministers, 
from  time  to  time,  with  assurances  of  the  unshaken 
loyally  of  the  pastors  comprehended  in  this  union, 
and  the  churches  under  itieir  care,  and  to  vindicate 
them,  if  unjustly  aspersed."* 

This  convention  first  met  at  Elizabethtown,  in 
New  Jersey,  November  5th,  1766;  and  continued 
to  meet  annually,  sometimes  within  the  bounds  of 
the  Synod,  and  sometimes  in  Connecticut,  until 
the  year  1775,  when  its  meetings  became  unneces- 
sary, and  were  discontinued.  Mr.  Rodgers  was 
always  one  of  the  delegates  from  the  Synod  of  the 

*  MS.  Records  of  the  Convention,  in  the  hands  of  Ebe- 
nezer  Hazard,  Esq.  of  Philadelphia. 


2^34  ^^^    YORK. 

Presbyterian  Church,  and  an  active  member  of  the 
convention.  This  circumstance,  while  it  evinced 
the  high  confidence  which  his  brethren  reposed  in 
his  fidelity  and  wisdom,  introduced  him  to  a 
very  general  and  honourable  acquaintance  with  the 
clergy  of  the  American  colonies,*  and  also  gave 
him  the  best  opportunity  of  exhibiting  that  ardent 
attachment  to  civil  and  religious  liberty,  which  dis- 
tinguished his  character,  and  pervaded  his  life. 

The  following  extracts  from  a  letter  addressed 
by  this  convention,  to  the  dissenting  committee  in 
England,  will  serve,  at  once,  to  show  the  spirit  of 
those  times,  and  to  rescue  from  misrepresentation 
the  conduct  of  some  great  and  good  men,  who  had 
then  much  influence  in  the  ecclesiastical  concerns 
of  America. 

"  This  we  have  apprehended  to  be  our  duty, 
especially  in  our  present  circumstances  ;  not  only 
that  we  might  strengthen  our  influence  in  suppres- 
sing or  discouraging  any  measures  that  might  be 
fallen  upon  by  the  people  committed  to  our  care, 
that  would  be  inconsistent  with  our  character  as 
peaceable  and  loyal  subjects,  or  detrimental  to  the 
public  peace  and  tranquillity  ;  but  also  that  we 
might,  as  faithful  officers  in  the  Church  of  Christ, 
watch  over  her  rights  and  privileges,  and  endeav- 
our more  eflcctually  to  prevent  any  attempts  of  any 
other  denomination  of  Christians  to  oppress  us. 
The  late  attempts  of  the  Episcopalian  missionaries 
among  us  to  introduce  an  American  Episcopate, 

*  As  a  member  of  the  Convention,  he  was  not  only  as- 
sociated with  such  men  as  IJr.  Francis  Allison,  Dr.  Pa- 
trick Allison,  Dr.  Macwhortcr,  and  a  number  of  other  dis- 
tinguisihcd  clergymen  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  but 
also  with  some  of  the  most  eminent  clergymen  of  New 
England. 


NEW    YORK.  J  35 

have  given  a  very  just  and  general  alarm  to  our 
churches,  who  tied  from  the  unmerciful  rigour  and 
persecutions  of  diocesan  bishops  in  our  mother 
country,  to  settle  in  an  uncultivated  wilderness. 
The  recollection  of  the  cruelties  and  hardships 
which  our  fathers  suffered  before  this  peaceful  re- 
treat was  opened  for  us,  fills  our  minds  with  an 
utter  abhorrence  of  every  species  of  ecclesiastical 
tyranny  and  persecution,  and  therefore  we  would 
guard  with  special  care  against  admitting  any  just 
suspicion  that  we  would  suffer  that  to  take  place 
among  ourselves  which  we  so  much  condemn  in 
others. 

"  We  oppose  not,  therefore,  the  introduction  of 
diocesan  bishops  in  America,  from  any  apprehen- 
sion that  we  have  any  exclusive  privileges  above 
others,  or  from  any  right  we  have  to  endeavour  to 
prevent  them  from  enjoying  the  same  liberty  with 
any  other  denomination  of  Christians  in  the  colo- 
nies. We  oppose  the  scheme  from  very  different 
motives  and  principles.  Our  fears  would  not  be 
so  much  alarmed,  could  any  rational  method  be 
devised  for  sending  over  bishops  among  us,  strip- 
ped of  every  degree  of  civil  power,  and  confined 
in  the  exercise  of  their  ecclesiastical  functions  to 
their  own  society ;  and  could  we  have  sufficient 
security  that  the  British  Parliament  that  would 
send  them  over,  thus  limited,  to  gain  a  peaceable 
settlement  here,  would  never  be  induced  by  their 
complaints  for  the  want  of  power,  to  enlarge  it  at 
any  future  period.  But  it  is  very  evident  that  it  is 
not  that  harmless  and  inoffensive  bishop  which  is 
designed  for  us,  or  which  the  missionaries  among 
us  request;  and  therefore  we  cannot  but  be  appre- 
hensive of  danger  from  the  proposed  episcopate, 
however  plausible  the  scheme  may  be  represented. 


136  NEW   YORK, 

We  all  know  the  jealousy  of  the  bishops  in  Eng- 
land concerning  their  own  power  and  dignity  suf- 
fering by  the  example  of  such  a  limited  bishop  in 
America,  and  we  also  know  the  force  of  a  British 
act  of  Parliament,  and  have  reason  to  dread  the  es- 
tablishment of  bishops'  courts  among  us.  Should 
they  claim  the  right  of  holding  these  courts,  and 
of  exercising  the  powers  belonging  to  their  office 
by  the  common  law  of  England,  (which  is  esteemed 
the  birth-right  of  a  British  subject,)  we  could  have 
no  counterbalance  to  this  enormous  power  in  our 
colonies,  where  we  have  no  nobility  or  proper 
courts  to  check  the  dangerous  exertions  of  their 
authority,  and  when  our  governors  and  judges  may 
be  the  needy  dependents  of  a  prime  minister,  and 
therefore  afraid  to  disoblige  a  person  who  is  sure 
of  being  supported  by  the  whole  bench  of  bishops 
in  England.  So  that  our  civil  liberties  appear  to  us 
to  be  in  eminent  danger  from  such  an  establish- 
ment. We  have  so  long  tasted  the  sweets  of  civil 
and  religious  liberty,  that  we  cannot  be  easily  pre- 
vailed upon  to  submit  to  a  yoke  of  bondage,  which 
neither  we  nor  our  fathers  were  able  to  bear."* 

But  besides  acting  as  a  member  of  this  conven- 
tion, Mr.  Rodgers  v/as  associated  with  a  band  of 
worthies  in  the  city  of  New  York,  who  were  firm 
frien<ls  to  the  same  cause,  and  who  made  a  number 
of  useful  publications  on  the  impolicy  and  dangers 
of  an  American  episcopale,  and  on  subjects  con- 
nected therewith.  Of  this  number  were  the  Rev. 
Doctors  Laidliet  anil  Mason,  with  William  Living- 

*  MS.  records  of  tlie  Convention. 

t  The  Rev.  Archibald  I>aidlie,  D.D.,  was  a  native  of 
Scotland.  He  had  accepted  a  call  to  the  Dutch  church  of 
Flushing,  in  Zealand,  and  had  been  four  years  the  pastor 
of  that  church  when  he  was  called  to  the  city  of  New 


NEW   YORK.  137 

ston,*  William  Smith,t  and  John  Morin  Scolt,J 
esquires,  who  were  vigilant  observers  of  the  course 
of  public  affairs,  and  who  did  much  to  awaken 
and  direct  the  public  mind  at  that  interesting  pe- 
riod. Though  the  subject  of  this  memoir  did  not 
himself  make  any  large  publication  at  that  time, 
yet  he  published  some  smaller  pieces,  whicli  were 
considered  as  useful,  and  constantly  aided  by  his 
influence  and  his  counsels  the  cause  in  which  he 
was  engaged. 

In  1768,  Mr.  Rodgers  had  the  degree  of  Doctor 
of  Divinity  conferred  on  him,  by  the  University 
of  Edinburgh.  Academic  honours  of  this  kind 
have  become  so  common  at  the  present  day,  that 
their  value,  even  in  public  opinion,  is  much  reduc- 
ed. But  this  was  by  no  means  the  case  at  the  date 
of  the  event  in  question.  At  that  time,  consider- 
able advancement  in  age,  and  more  than  usual  ele- 
vation and  weight  of  character,  were  deemed  in- 

York,  where  he  arrived  in  1764.  He  was  the  first  minis- 
ter of  the  Dntch  church  in  America  who  officiated  in  the 
English  language.  He  was  a  man  of  distinguished  ta- 
lents, of  respectable  learning,  and  of  ardent  piety.  As  a 
preacher,  he  was  evangelical,  powerful,  popular,  and  suc- 
cessful to  an  uncommon  degree,  and,  as  a  pastor,  indefati- 
gably  faithful.  His  ministry  was  greatly  blessed  to  the 
Dutch  church  in  New  York.  lie  died  at  Red  Hook  in 
1778,  while  an  exile  from  the  city,  on  account  of  the  re- 
volutionary war.  Probably  no  minister  ever  lived  in  New 
York  more  honoured,  or  more  useful,  or  died  more  uni- 
versally regretted  than  Doctor  Laidlie. 

*  Afterwards  Governor  of  New  Jersey,  whose  character 
and  writings  arc  well  known. 

t  The  historian  of  New  York,  and  an  eminent  counsel- 
lor at  law;  who  died,  a  few  years  ago.  Chief  Justice  of 
Canada. 

t  A  counsellor  at  law,  of  much  eloquence,  wit,  and  in- 
fluence,  at  that  period- 

12 


138  ^^^    YOKK. 

dispensable  requisites  for  meriting  this  degree. 
The  circumstances  also  attending  this  tribute  of 
respect  from  a  foreign  University,  were  honour- 
able to  its  object.  It  was  as  unexpected,  as  it  had 
been  altogether  unsolicited  by  him.  Mr.  White- 
field  being  then  in  London,  and  wishing  a  public 
honour  of  this  nature  to  be  conferred  on  his  Ame- 
rican friend,  communicated  his  wish  to  Dr.  Frank- 
lin, who  was  also  in  London,  at  the  same  time. 
Dr.  Franklin,  at  the  request  of  Mr.  Whitefield,  im- 
mediately wrote  to  Dr.  Robertson,  principal  of  the 
University  of  Edinburgh,  giving  Mr.  Rotlgers  such 
a  character  as  he  thought  proper,  and  requesting 
for  him,  from  that  university,  the  degree  of  doctor 
in  divinity.  Dr.  Robertson  immediately  took  mea- 
sures for  complying  with  this  request.  The  de- 
gree was  conferred.  And  in  a  few  weeks  Doctor 
Franklin  received  the  official  testimonial  of  the 
fact,  which  he  sent  to  Mr.  Whitefield,  and  Avhich 
was  by  him  transmitted  to  Mr.  Rodgers.  The  di- 
ploma bore  date,  December  20th,  1768,  and  reached 
the  hands  of  Mr.  Rodgers,  in  the  following  April, 
in  the  forty  second  year  of  his  age. 

The  gradual  depreciation  of  the  value  of  ho- 
norary degrees  in  later  times,  and  especially  in 
our  own  country,  may  be  ascribed  to  a  variety  of 
causes: — to  the  multiplication  of  colleges  in  the 
United  States,  beyond  the  necessities  of  tlie  coun- 
try, and  beyond  its  power  of  efficient  support; 
each  of  which  colleges,  deems  itself  bound  to  con- 
tinue the  habit  of  annually  bestowing  its  honours: 
to  the  groat  increase,  of  the  number  of  those,  in 
proportion  to  the  mass  of  society,  who  pass  througli 
a  collegiate  course,  and  receive  the  first  collegiate 
laurels,  by  which  their  ambition  is  excited  to  seek 
after  those  of  a  higher  grade:  and,  perhaps,  in 


NEW  YORK.  139 

some  measure,  to  the  prevailing  plan  of  govern- 
ment adopted  in  colleges  on  this  side  of  the  At- 
lantic. But  to  whatever  causes  it  may  be  ascribed, 
the  fact  itself  is  unquestionable  ;  and  is  chargeable, 
it  is  believed,  in  a  greater  degree,  on  the  colleges 
of  America,  than  on  any  others  in  the  world. 
What  a  contrast  between  that  state  of  public  sen- 
timent, and  public  habit,  which  permitted  presi- 
dent Dickinson,  president  Burr,  president  Edwards, 
president  Davies,  the  apostolic  Tennents,  Mr. 
Wliitefield,  and  a  long  catalogue  of  similar  men,  to 
descend  to  their  graves  without  a  Doctorate  ;  and 
that  which  now  lavishes  the  title,  on  juvenility,  on 
ignorance,  and  on  weakness,  with  a  frequency  al- 
together unworthy  of  the  dispensers  of  literary  ho- 
nour !  And  although  the  venerable  subject  of  this 
memoir,  received  his  education,  his  habits,  and 
his  clerical  title,  in  the  better  days  of  literary  ad- 
ministration, if  the  expression  may  be  allowed, 
yet  it  must  be  owned  that  his  great  benevolence 
and  urbanity,  too  often  prompted  him,  when  called 
to  act  as  one  of  the  guardians  of  literature,  to  con- 
cur in  that  system  of  facility  and  yielding  on  this 
subject,  which  has  so  much  reduced  the  value  of 
Academic  honours.* 

*  The  practice  of  conferring  the  honours  of  literary  in- 
stitutions on  individuals  of  distinguished  erudition,  com- 
menced in  the  twelfth  century  ;  when  the  Emperor  Lo- 
thaire,  having  found  in  Italy  a  copy  of  tlie  Roman  law, 
ordained  that  it  should  be  publicly  expounded  in  the 
schools :  and  that  he  might  give  encouragement  to  the 
study,  he  further  ordered,  that  the  public  professors  of  this 
law  should  be  dignified  with  the  title  of  Doctors.  The 
first  person  created  a  Doctor,  after  tiiis  ordinance  of  the 
Emperor,  VTas  Bulgarus  Hugolinus,  who  was  greatly  dis- 
tinguished for  his  learning,  and  literary  labour.  Not  long 
afterwards  the  practice  of  creating  doctors  was  borrowed 


140  ^^^    YORK. 

In  the  summer  of  1768,  the  Rev.  Doctor  Wi- 
therspoon  reached  America,  anil  look  charge  of  the 
college  at  Princeton,  to  the  presidency  of  which  he 
had  been  called  a  short  lime  before.  Dr.  Rodgers 
was  among  the  first  to  do  honour  to  the  talents, 
learning,  and  piety  of  this  eminent  stranger;  and 
was  always  ranked  among  his  most  respectful  and 
affectionate  friends.  In  1769,  he  accompanied  Dr. 
Witherspoon  on  a  visit  to  Boston,  and  other  parts 
of  New  England,  where  they  spent  some  weeks; 
and  where  they  were  received  and  treated  with 
the  most  gratifying  distinction  and  respect.  This 
journey  was  exceedingly  interesting  to  both.  It 
introduced  them  to  a  new,  and  highly  valued  circle 
of  friends  ;  and  furnished  matter  for  pleasing  reflec- 
tion, and  entertaining  anecdote,  to  the  end  of  life. 
Few  men  were  ever  more  free  from  feelings  of 
envy  and  jealousy  than  Dr.  Rodgers.  He  had  the 
discernment  to  perceive,  and  the  magnanimity  to 
acknowledge,  intellectual  and  literary  superiority 
wherever  they  existed;  and  was  unfeignedly  gra- 
tified with  the  public  honours  received  and  enjoyed 

from  the  lawyers  by  divines,  who,  in  their  schools,  publicly 
taught  divinity,  and  conferred  degrees  on  those  who  had 
made  great  proficiency  in  this  science.  The  plan  of  con- 
ferring degrees  in  divinity  was  first  adopted  in  tlie  uni- 
versities of  Bologna,  Oxford,  and  Paris.  See  Matlicr's 
Magnalia  Christi  Americana,  B.  iv.  p.  134.  It  is  remark- 
able  that  tlie  celebrated  Dr.  Samuel  Johnson,  when  he  had 
become  eminent  in  litcratnre,  could  not  obtain  the  degree 
of  Master  of  Arts,  from  Trinity  college,  Dublin,  though 
powerful  interest  was  made  in  his  belialf,  for  this  purpose, 
by  Mr.  Pope,  Lord  Gower,  and  others.  Instances  of  the 
failure  of  apjilications  of  a  similar  kind,  made  in  favour  of 
characters  still  more  distinguished  than  Johnson  then  was, 
are  also  on  record.  So  cautious  and  reserved  were  literary 
institutions,  a  little  more  than  lialf  a  century  ago,  in  be- 
stowing their  honours ! 


NEW    YORK.  14.1 

by  such  superior  minds.  His  intercourse  with 
Dr.  VViiherspoon  was  a  striking  exemplification  of 
this  part  of  his  character.  That  distinguished 
president  of  Nassau-Hall,  had,  probably,  one  of 
the  most  sound  and  vigorous  minds  of  the  age  in 
which  he  lived;  and  in  every  company,  or  delibe- 
rative body,  in  which  he  appeared,  his  superiority 
was  apparent.  *  Yet  no  man  ever  perceived  in 
Dr.  Rodger?  the  smallest  uneasiness  at  the  fame 

*  Dr.  John  Witherspoon  was  a  native  of  Scotland, 
where  he  was  born,  February  5th,  1722.  He  was  hneally 
descended  from  John  Knox,  the  eminent  reformer.  He 
received  his  education  in  the  university  of  Edinburgh, 
which  he  left,  after  completing  his  studies,  in  the  Theolo- 
gical Hall,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one.  From  that  period, 
until  his  arrival  in  America,  he  devoted  Himself  to  the 
work  of  the  gospel  ministry,  first  at  Beith,  and  afterwards 
at  Paisley.  Whether  we  consider  this  great  man  as  a 
divine,  a  statesman,  or  the  head  of  a  literary  institution, 
his  talents  and  usefulness  were  pre-eminent.  Many  men 
have  had  greater  brilliancy  of  genius,  and  greater  variety 
and  extent  of  learning;  but  scarcely  any  man  ever  pos- 
sessed more  sound  practical  wisdom,  more  comprehensive 
views,  or  a  mass  of  information  better  selected,  or  more 
thoroughly  digested,  than  he.  His  works  will  do  him 
honour,  as  long  as  piety,  orthodoxy,  good  sense,  and  pro- 
found discussion  of  truth  and  duty,  shall  be  esteemed 
among  men.  He  was  the  first  person  in  Great  Britain 
who  published  the  leading  doctrine  relating  to  the  illus- 
tration of  the  powers  of  the  human  mind,  on  the  princi- 
ples of  common  sense,  afterwards  so  largely  and  success, 
fully  developed  by  Dr.  Reid,  and  others.  It  is  asserted, 
by  competent  judges,  that  an  essay  in  the  Scott's  Maga- 
zine, by  Doctor  Witherspoon,  published  several  years  be- 
fore Dr.  Reid  had  given  any  thing  to  the  world  on  the 
subject,  distinctly  exhibits  the  grand  doctrine  for  which 
the  latter  has  received  so  much  praise.  And  it  is  certain 
that  Dr.  Witherspoon  himself,  whose  temper  was  very 
remote  from  vanity  or  arrogance,  always  laid  claim  to  the 
honour  of  being,  in  a  sort,  the  discoverer  of  tliat  doctrine. 


J  42  N^^   YORK, 

and  honours  of  his  ilhistrious  friend ;  though, 
amidst  the  intercourse  of  many  years,  he  was  often 
called  to  witness  them.  On  the  contrary,  he  was 
ever  among  the  most  forward  to  confess  his  supe- 
rior powers,  and  to  promote  his  merited  reputation. 
He  cultivated  towards  him  the  most  affectionate 
friendship,  and  took  pleasure  in  acting  with  him, 
as  long  as  they  both  lived. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Synod,  in  1774,  Dr.  Rod- 
gers  was  appointed  to  spend  a  number  of  weeks, 
in  the  summer  and  autumn  of  that  year,  on  a  mis- 
sionary tour,  through  the  northern,  and  north  wes- 
tern parts  of  the  province  of  New  York.  He  ac- 
cordingly devoted  several  months  to  that  service, 
itinerating  and  preaching  the  gospel  with  unwea- 
ried zeal  an^  assiduity;  for  the  most  part  in  places 
utterly  destitute  of  the  means  of  grace ;  generally 
with  great  acceptance;  and  in  a  number  of  instan- 
ces, with  the  most  gratifying  success.  His  labours, 
in  the  course  of  that  mission,  were  the  immediate 
or  remote  means  of  forming  many  churches,  which 
have  since  proved  large,  flourishing,  and  happy. 

The  period  in  which  the  Doctor  fulfilled  this 
mission,  was  the  period  rendered  memorable  by 
the  warm  dispute  between  the  settlers  in  the  terri- 
tory which  is  now  Vermont,  and  the  government 
of  New  York,  which  claimed  that  territory  as 
lying  within  its  jurisdiction.  Measures  of  great 
decision,  and  even  violence,  had  been  taken  by 
both  parlies,  a  short  time  before  he  went  into  that 
country;  so  that  he  found  the  public  mind,  par- 
ticularly in  Vermont,  highly  irritated  and  inflamed. 
Nothing  was  further  from  his  view  than  any  poli- 
tical design  ;  but  some  of  the  jealous  and  exaspe- 
rated Vermonters,  knowing  that  he  came  from  the 
capital  of  New  York,  and  connecting  every  thing 


NEW   YORK.  143 

with  the  existing  dispute,  suspected  him  of  being 
engaged  in  some  mission  or  plan  unfriendly  to 
their  claims.  In  a  particular  town,  which  he  had 
entered,  by  appointment,  for  the  sole  purpose  of 
preaching,  he  observed,  a  little  before  the  public 
service  began,  several  rough  and  fierce  looking 
men  approach  the  house  in  which  he  was  about  to 
preach,  and  enter  into  very  earnest,  and  apparently, 
angry  conversation  with  those  who  were  near  the 
door.  He  was  utterly  ignorant,  at  the  time,  of 
their  design,  or  of  the  subject  of  their  conversa- 
tion ;  but  was  afterwards  informed,  that  they  were 
very  warmly  contending  with  his  friend,  that  he 
was  a  spy,  and,  of  course,  a  very  dangerous  cha- 
racter, and  that  he  ought  to  be  immediately  ar- 
rested. It  was  in  vain  that  the  friends  of  the  Doc- 
tor remonstrated,  on  tlie  ground  of  the  sacredness 
of  his  office,  and  the  solemnity  of  the  duty  in 
which  he  was  about  to  engage,  and  to  attend  on 
which  the  people  were  then  collecting.  His  angry 
accusers  replied,  that  the  more  sacred  his  office, 
the  greater  his  power  of  doing  mischief;  and  that 
to  let  him  escape  would  be  treason  to  their  cause. 
At  length,  finding  that  all  they  could  say  availed 
nothing  to  his  exculpation,  and  that  the  most  posi- 
tive assurances  of  his  being  known  to  be  a  man  of 
pious  and  exemplary  character,  only  rendered  these 
hostile  and  ardent  spirits  more  determined  in  their 
original  purpose,  the  friends  of  the  Doctor  only 
begged  them  to  delay  the  seizure  of  his  person 
until  after  divine  service  should  be  closed,  as  it 
would  be  a  pity  to  disappoint  so  large  a  congrega- 
tion as  had  then  assembled  for  public  worship.  To 
this  proposal,  after  much  persuasion,  they  reluc- 
tantly consented,  and  divine  service  in  a  few  mo- 
ments began.     The  exercises  were  more  than  usu- 


144  ^^^    YORK. 

ally  solemn  and  impressive  in  their  character; 
many  of  the  congregation  were  in  tears  ;  and  even 
those  who  had  come  into  the  assembly  armed  with 
so  much  resentment,  were  observed  to  be  first  seri- 
ous, and  then  softened,  with  those  around  them. 
When  the  solemnities  of  worship  were  ended,  they 
said  nothing  more  about  their  plan  of  arresting  the 
preacher ;  but  quietly  retired,  and  suffered  him  to 
pursue  his  journey.  Before  he  left  the  house, 
however,  in  which  he  had  preached,  the  owner  of 
it,  who  had  stood  his  firm  friend  in  the  contest, 
put  him  on  his  guard,  by  relating  all  that  had 
passed. 

Two  or  three  days  after  this,  while  the  Doctor 
was  preaching  in  a  more  northern  town,  in  the 
same  district  of  country,  soon  after  the  public  ser- 
vice began,  he  saw  two  men  enter  the  assembly, 
marked  with  countenances  of  peculiar  ferocity  and 
rage.  He  afterwards  learned  that  they  had  come 
from  a  southern  town,  under  the  same  impressions 
and  with  the  same  views  as  their  predecessors  in 
violence.  On  entering  the  assembly,  they  seated 
themselves,  resolving  to  wait  until  the  service 
should  be  ended,  and  then  to  arrest  the  preacher. 
The  exercises  of  the  day,  as  in  the  former  case, 
were  the  means  of  disarming  them.  When  the 
benediction  was  pronounced,  they  withdrew,  say- 
ing to  each  other,  that  they  were  probably  mistaken 
in  the  man,  and  had  better  go  home. 

Those  who  are  acquainted  with  the  piety,  the 
fervour,  and  the  affection,  which  Dr.  Rodgers  ha- 
bitually manifested  in  his  public  addresses,  will 
feel  no  surprise  at  their  producing  such  effects  as 
these.  No  one  could  hear  him  without  being  im- 
pressed with  tiie  conviction  that  he  was  not  acting 
a  part,  but  that  he  was  deeply  in  earnest;  that  he 


NEW   YORK.  145 

felt  the  importance  of  what  he  uttered  ;  and  that 
he  was  actuated  by  a  tender  concern  for  the  tem- 
poral and  eternal  welfare  of  those  whom  he  ad- 
dressed. It  is  impossible,  here,  not  to  recollect 
the  case  of  an  infinitely  greater  than  the  subject  of 
this  memoir,  by  whose  discourse  the  officers  who 
had  been  sent  to  seize  him  were  disarmed,  and 
concerning  whom  they  ingenuously  said,  on  their 
return,  "never  man  spake  like  this  man." 

In  1774,  it  was  judged  proper  to  make  one 
more  effort  to  obtain  a  charter  for  the  church  in 
New  York.  Governor  Tryon  being  about  to  em- 
bark for  Great  Britain,  in  the  autumn  of  that  year, 
was  made  fully  acquainted  with  all  the  steps  which 
had  been  taken,  at  different  times,  for  attaining 
this  object,  and  also  with  all  the  distressing  embar- 
rassments and  difficulties  which  had  arisen  from 
repeated  disappointments.  He  professed  to  have 
a  deep  conviction  of  the  injustice  and  impolicy  of 
the  treatment  which  the  congregation  had  received 
in  relation  to  this  affair ;  and  promised  his  best 
offices,  when  he  should  arrive  in  England,  to  pro- 
mote the  accomplishment  of  their  wishes.  On 
receiving  from  him  declarations  and  assurances  of 
this  kind,  that  he  might  be  furnished  with  a  proper 
document  to  lay  before  the  King  and  the  Privy 
Council  on  the  subject,  a  petition  was  formally 
presented  to  him,  making  suitable  statements,  and 
praying  for  a  charter.  Petitions  of  a  similar  na- 
ture were  presented  to  the  Governor  from  several 
Presbyterian  congregations  in  different  parts  of  the 
province,  and  also  from  several  Low  Dutch  Re- 
formed congregations.  These  petitions  he  took 
with  him,  and  pursued  the  business  intrusted  to 
him  with  so  much  fidelity,  that  he  actually  obtain- 


246  ^^^    YORK. 

ed  an  order  from  the  King  and  Council  to  grant 
all  the  charters  for  which  application  had  been 
made.  On  his  return  to  New  York,  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1775,  he  imparted  this  pleasing  intelligence 
to  the  several  petitioners  ;  in  consequence  of  which, 
the  ministers,  elders,  deacons,  and  trustees  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  in  the  city,  in  compliance  wiih 
a  form  which  they  were  told  was  necessary,  pre- 
sented another  petition  to  the  Governor  and  coun- 
cil, accompanied  with  a  draft  of  the  charter  for 
which  they  prayed,  Tiiis  petition  was  favourably 
received ;  the  charter,  as  drafted,  actually  passed 
the  council,  and  was  put  into  the  hands  of  Mr. 
Kemp,  the  King's  attorney,  to  report  thereon.  The 
report  of  this  officer  was  made  necessary  by  the  ten- 
or of  the  royal  order;  but  was,  at  the  same  time, 
considered  as  a  mere  formality,  and  a  favourable  re- 
port, as  a  thing  of  course,  after  the  steps  which  had 
been  taken.  In  this,  however,  the  persons  concern- 
ed were  deceived.  Neither  the  charter,  nor  his  re- 
port upon  it,  could  ever  be  gotten  out  of  the  at- 
torney's hands.  On  one  frivolous  pretence  or 
another  he  delayed  from  time  to  time,  until  the  ap- 
proach of  the  revolutionary  struggle,  which,  while 
it  rendered  the  congregation  less  solicitous  about 
obtaining  a  charter,  attracted  and  fixed  their  atten- 
tion on  other  subjects. 

Dr.  Rodgers  was  an  early  and  a  decided  friend 
to  American  Independence.  When  the  contest 
between  Great  Britain  and  her  colonies  was  draw- 
ing to  a  crisis,  and  it  became  evident  that  an 
appeal  to  the  sword  was  unavoidable,  he  did  not 
hesitate  to  take  side  with  the  latter  ;  and  was  the 
uniform,  zealous,  and  active  advocate  of  his  coun- 
try's rights.     A  few  of  the  principal  members  of 


NEW   YORK.  147 

his  church  took  a  different  course  ;*  but  a  great 
majority  of  them  decided  and  acted  in  concur- 
rence with  their  pastor.  For  a  considerable  time 
before  this  crisis  arrived,  Dr.  Rodgers,  and  seve- 
ral other  clergymen  of  tlie  city,  among  whom 
were  Dr.  Mason  and  Dr.  liaidiie,  had  been  in  the 
habit  of  holding  weekly  meetings  for  cultivating 
friendship  with  each  other,  and  for  mutual  instruc- 
tion. Towards  the  close  of  1775,  the  gentlemen 
concerned  agreed  to  suspend  their  usual  exercises 
at  these  meetings,  and  to  employ  the  time,  when 
they  came  together,  in  special  prayer  for  a  bless- 
ing upon  the  country,  in  the  struggle  on  which  it 
was  entering.  This  meeting,  thus  conducted,  was 
kept  up  until  the  ministers  composing  it,  and  the 
great  mass  of  the  people  under  their  pastoral  care, 
retired  from  the  city,  previous  to  the  arrival  of  the 
British  forces. 

It  being  taken  for  granted,  immediately  after  the 
commencement  of  hostilities  with  Great  Britain, 
that  gaining  possession  of  New  York  would  be  one 
of  the  first  and  most  favourite  objects  of  that  go- 
vernment; and  the  movements  of  the  enemy  soon 
beginning  to  confirm  this  expectation,  a  large  part 
of  the  inhabitants  of  the  city,  not  wishing  either  to 
join  the  British,  or  to  lie  at  their  mercy,  thought 
proper  to  retire  from  the  scene,  and  go  into  a  vo- 

*  Amon^  those  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in 
New  York,  who  took  the  side  of  Great  Britain  in  this 
contest,  were  Andrew  Ehot,Esq.,  the  collector  of  the  port; 
William  Smith,  Esq.,  mentioned  in  a  preceding  page ; 
James  Jaunccy,  Esq.,  a  gentleman  of  great  wealth  and 
respectability,  and  some  others,  to  whom  Dr.  Rodgers  was 
greatly  attached,  and  from  whom  he  separated  with  pain. 
But,  compared  with  the  body  of  the  congregation,  the 
number  of  those  who  took  this  ground  was  extremely 
small. 


148  ^^^    YORK. 

luntary  exile.  The  greater  portion  of  those  who 
toolv  lliis  course,  left  the  city  toward  the  close  of 
the  winter  and  in  the  spring  of  1776.  On  the  29th 
of  February,  Dr.  Rodgers  removed  his  family  to  a 
place  of  retirement,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the 
city ;  where  they  remained  during  the  months  of 
March  and  April ;  and  from  which  he  found  it  con- 
venient to  visit  the  city,  as  often  as  his  professional 
duties  required. 

On  the  14th  day  of  April,  in  that  year,  General 
Washington  reached  New  York,  and  took  pos- 
session of  it  for  its  defence.  Soon  after  his  arrival. 
Dr.  Rodgers,  in  company  with  other  friends  of  the 
American  cause,  waited  on  the  General  to  pay  him 
his  respects.  The  General  received  him  with 
pointed  attention  ;  and  when  he  was  about  to  retire, 
followed  him  to  the  door,  and  observed,  that  his 
name  had  been  mentioned  to  him  in  Philadelphia, 
which  he  had  just  left,  as  a  gentleman  wliose 
fidelity  to  the  interest  and  liberties  of  the  country 
might  be  relied  on,  and  who  might  be  capable  of 
giving  him  important  information :  and  added, 
"  May  I  take  the  liberty.  Sir,  to  apply  to  you,  with 
this  view,  whenever  circumstances  may  render  it 
desirable?"  The  Doctor,  after  assuring  him  of 
the  readiness  and  pleasure  with  which  he  should 
render  him,  in  the  cause  in  which  he  was  engaged, 
any  service  in  his  power,  took  his  leave.  It  is  not 
improper  to  add,  that  the  General  actually  did  con- 
sult the  Doctor,  on  several  occasions  afterwards, 
concerning  certain  parts  of  the  public  service,  and, 
particularly  in  one  case,  received  from  him  impor- 
tant information.  A  number  of  letters  passed  be- 
tween them,  some  of  which  were  found  among  the 
Doctor's  papers  after  his  decease. 

In  the  month  of  May,  1776,  the  Doctor  removed 


NEW   YORK.  J  49 

his  family  from  the  neighbourhood  of  New  York 
to  Greenfield,  in  Connecticut,  as  a  place  of  more 
comfortable  retirement  and  greater  safely.  About 
the  same  time,  or  a  few  weeks  afterwards,  the  great 
body  of  his  congregation  left  the  city,  and  either 
joined  the  army,  to  render  what  aid  they  were  able 
to  the  common  cause,  or  took  refuge  in  such  parts 
of  the  adjacent  country  as  were  most  secure  from 
the  incursions  of  the  enemy.  Tiie  Reverend  Mr. 
Treat,  his  colleague,  left  the  city  about  the  same 
time. 

It  ought  not  to  be  omitted,  that  Doctor  Rodgers, 
among  the  many  points  in  which  his  conduct  is 
worthy  of  remembrance  and  imitation,  displayed, 
about  this  time,  that  tender  filial  atlection,  which 
might  have  been  expected  from  his  general  charac- 
ter. A  few  years  before  the  commencement  of  tlie 
revolutionary  war,  his  father's  house,  in  the  city 
of  Philadelphia,  was  consumed  by  fire,  and  his  fa- 
ther perished  in  the  flames.  He  immediately  took 
his  mother  under  his  own  roof,  and,  as  long  as  she 
lived,  displayed  towards  her  all  the  unremitting  at- 
tentions of  the  most  dutiful  son.  He  removed  her, 
at  the  commencement  of  the  war,  into  Connecticut, 
where  she  died,  in  the  course  of  the  next  year,  at 
a  good  old  age,  and  after  a  life  of  exemplary  piety. 

A  short  time  after  tlic  removal  of  Dr.  Rodgers  to 
New  York,  and  more  particularly  after  tlie  public 
testimony  of  respect  which  he  received  from  the 
University  of  Edinburgh,  he  was  led,  by  a  variety 
of  circumstances,  to  commence  a  correspontlence 
with  several  genUemen  of  distinction,  in  Great 
Britain,  which  he  maintained,  until  the  commence- 
ment of  hostilities  interrupted  the  intercourse  with 
that  country ;  and  which,  with  respect  to  most  of 
them,  he  resumed  and  continued,  alter  the  restora- 


1  50  ^^^  YORK. 

tion  of  peace.  Among  these  gentlemen,  were  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Gillies,  of  Glasgow,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Gib- 
bons, of  London,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Price,  of  Hackney, 
and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Ryland,  of  Northampton.  But 
among  all  his  friends  beyond  the  Atlantic,  he  priz- 
ed the  correspondence  of  none  more  than  that  of 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Erskine,  of  Edinburgh,  whose  talents, 
learning,  and  fervent  piety,  rendered  him  eminent 
throughout  Protestant  Christendom,  His  episto- 
lary intercourse  with  this  venerable  clergyman  was 
constant  and  peculiarly  affectionate,  and  continued 
till  the  death  of  Dr.  Erskine,  which  took  place  se- 
ven or  eight  years  before  that  of  Dr.  Rodgers.* 

*  An  incident  connected  with  the  correspondence  with 
Dr.  Erskine,  impressed  the  writer  of  these  pages  very 
forcibly  at  the  time  of  its  occurrence.  When  Dr.  Rodgers 
received  the  news  of  the  deatli  of  that  excellent  man,  he 
was  himself  recovering  from  a  severe  illness,  and  was 
deeply  affected  with  the  intelligence.  After  some  pious 
remarks,  and  a  reference  to  the  circumstance  of  Dr.  Ers- 
kine's  age  and  his  own  being  nearly  the  same,  he  added, 
"  I  liave  now  lost  the  last  of  my  correspondents  in  Great 
Britain.  I  believe  I  must  open  a  correspondence  with  Dr. 
Balfour,  of  Glasgow;  as  I  do  not  wish  to  be  without  a 
friend  on  that  side  of  the  Atlantic,  with  whom  I  can  oc- 
casionally exchange  letters."  The  writer  acknowledges 
that  the  first  impression  made  on  his  mind  by  this  remark, 
from  the  lips  of  a  man  of  seventy-six  or  seventy-seven 
years  of  age,  and  tl;en  so  feeble  as  not  to  be  likely  to  live 
many  months,  was  ratlier  of  the  ludicrous  kind.  But  a 
moment's  reflection  entirely  removed  this  impression,  and 
produced  one  of  respect  and  admiration.  It  was  the  same 
firm,  persevering,  practical  spirit,  which  had  attended  Dr. 
Rodgers  through  life,  and  had  prompted  him  to  so  much 
active  usefulness,  wliich,  on  this  occasion,  led  him,  instead 
of  giving  up  to  inaction  and  langour,  for  tiie  remainder  of 
life,  to  go  on  laying  new  i)lans  for  exertion  and  enjoyment, 
as  long  as  he  had  power  to  make  an  effort.  The  famous 
motto  of  Dr.  Doddridge,  Dum  vivimus,  vivamus,  has  an 


REVOLUTIONARY    WAR.  151 


CHAPTER  VI. 

The  period  of  his  exile  from  New  York,  during  the  Revo- 
lutionary War. 

In  the  month  of  April,  1776,  Dr.  Rodgers  was 
appointed  chaplain  to  General  Healh*!?  brigade, 
consisting  partly  of  militia,  and  partly  of  regidar 
troops,  enlisted  for  a  short  period.  'I'his  brigade 
for  several  months,  during  the  spring  and  summer 
of  this  year,  was  stationed  near  Greenwich,  on 
New  York  island.  The  Doctor,  therefore,  after 
placing  his  family  at  Greenfield,  as  before  stated, 
under  the  hospitable  roof  of  his  excellent  son-in- 
law,  the  Rev.  Mr.  (afterwards  Dr.)  Tennent,  re- 
turned to  the  neighbourhood  of  the  city,  and  faith- 
fully attended  to  the  duties  of  his  chaplaincy. 
Whatever  he  did,  he  did  with  his  might.  He 
engaged,  with  his  wonted  zeal,  in  plans  for  bene- 
fiting the  soldiery,  and  devoted  himself  to  their 
best  interests.  He  frequently,  in  subsequent  years, 
pointed  to  a  small  grove  near  the  spot  on  which 
the  state  prison  now  stands,  and  said,  "  That  was 
my  church  in  the  summer  and  autumn  of  1776." 

In  the  month  of  November  of  that  year,  having 
important  private  business  to  transact  in  the  state 
of  Georgia,  he  resigned  his  chaplaincy,  and  leav- 
ing his  family  still  at  Greenfield,   he  set  out,  by 

admirable  application  here.  There  is  no  doubt,  that  the 
premature  dotage  of  many  disting-uishcd  men,  has  arisen 
from  their  ceasing,  in  advanced  life,  to  exert  their  facul- 
ties, under  tlie  in)i)ression  that  they  were  too  old  to  en- 
gage in  any  new  enterprise.  If  the  spirit  of  Dr.  Rodgers 
were  more  prevalent,  old  men  would  live  with  more  com- 
fort, and  to  more  purpose. 


152  REVOLUTIONARY   WAR. 

land,  for  Savannah.  On  this  occasion,  as  well  as 
every  other  of  a  similar  kind,  he  made  his  journey 
a  kind  of  evangelical  mission;  preaching,  not  only 
regularly  on  the  Sabbath,  but  also  on  the  evenings 
of  week  days,  when  he  found  the  people  in  those 
towns  in  which  he  arrived  desirous  of  hearing  the 
word,  and  in  circumstances  which  admitted  of 
their  being  readily  convened  for  the  purpose.  He 
had  much  reason  to  believe  that  his  labours  in  the 
course  of  that  journey  were  useful  to  many  indi- 
viduals. 

Having  spent  some  time  in  Charleston,  and  the 
intermediate  country,  he  reached  Savannah  in  the 
month  of  January.  Here  he  remained  a  number 
of  weeks,  in  the  house  of  his  friend,  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Zubly,*  who  revered  and  loved  him,  and  who  had 
been  his  guest  a  short  time  before  in  New  York. 

*  John  Joachim  Zubly,  D.  D.  was  a  native  of  Switzer- 
land. He  came  to  America,  and  took  cliarge  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  in  Savannah,  in  tlie  year  1760.  He  not 
only  preached  in  that  church,  in  the  English  language, 
but  also  in  one  neighbouring  congregation  in  German, 
and  in  another  in  French.  He  was  a  member  of  the  pro- 
vincial congress  of  Georgia,  in  1775;  but  as  he  took  the 
side  of  opposition  to  American  independence,  he  incurred 
the  frowns  of  a  majority  of  his  fellow  citizens,  and  be- 
came, for  the  remainder  of  his  life,  less  happy  and  less 
useful.  Dr.  Zubly  was  a  man  of  strong  mind,  of  great 
learning,  and  of  eminent  piety.  His  evangelical  labours 
were  zealous,  unwearied,  and  extensively  useful.  'I'he  few 
and  small  publications  whicli  he  made,  do  honour  to  his 
memory.  He  died  at  Savannah,  in  1781.  Dr.  Rodgers 
and  he  had  a  great  respect  for  eacii  other.  The  only  sub- 
ject on  which  they  ever  materially  differed,  was  that  of 
American  independence.  Dr.  Zubly  was  much  grieved  in 
the  course  of  the  visit  in  question,  at  the  decisive  and 
ardent  manner  in  wliich  Dr.  Kodgcrs  prayed,  in  public 
and  private,  for  the  success  of  tlie  arms,  and  the  establish- 
ment of  the  independence,  of  America. 


REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.  153 

In  Savannah  lie  found  himself  on  ground  which 
had  been  often  trod  by  his  ilhislrious  friend,  and 
spiritual  father,  Mr.  Whitefield;  and  had  an  op- 
portunity of  contemplating  the  monuments  of  his 
pious  zeal.  The  friends  of  that  eminent  servant 
of  Jesus  Christ,  received  and  treated  him  with  the 
most  pointed  respect,  and  testified  their  readiness 
to  embrace  with  aflection  one  who  appeared  to 
have  drunk  so  deep  at  the  same  fountain,  and  to 
be  animated  with  the  same  spirit  which  distin- 
guished their  deceased  friend  and  benefactor. 

In  the  month  of  April,  1777,  Dr.  Rodgers  re- 
turned from  Georgia,  and  joined  his  family  at 
Greenfield.  On  his  way  home,  he  was  informed 
of  his  election  to  the  office  of  chaplain  to  the  Con- 
vention of  the  State  of  New  York,  then  silling  in 
Esopus,  and  engaged,  among  other  things,  in  form- 
ing a  constitution  for  the  State.  On  receiving  this 
information,  he  immediately  repaired  to  the  con- 
vention, and  entered  on  the  duties  of  his  office. 
He  continued  to  serve  that  body  in  the  capacity 
of  chaplain  as  long  as  it  continued  to  sit.  On  the 
dissolution  of  the  convention,  and  on  the  power  of 
the  State  being  temporarily  lodged  in  a  council  of 
safety,  which,  also,  for  some  weeks,  held  its  meet- 
ings at  Esopus,  the  Doctor  was  chosen  to  the 
chaplaincy  in  that  body.  And  shortly  afterwards, 
when  the  first  legislature  of  the  Stale,  under  the 
new  constitution,  convened,  he  was  a  third  time 
elected  to  serve  the  legislature  in  the  same  oflice. 
In  fulfilling  the  duties  of  these  successive  appoint- 
ments, he  and  his  family,  wliich  he  had  now  re- 
moved from  Greenfield,  were  led  to  reside  at  Eso- 
pus the  whole  of  the  summer,  and  a  part  of  the 
autumn  of  1777. 

Two  or  three  days  before  the  burning  of  Esopus 
13 


154  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR, 

by  the  British  troops,  which  took  place  in  October 
of  this  year,  Dr.  lio(-lg;ers,  learning  that  the  ene- 
my's fleet  was  ascending  the  river,  and  fearing 
those  acts  of  wanton  and  cruel  devastation,  which 
were  afterwards  so  unhappily  realized,  thought 
proper  to  remove  his  family  to  the  eastern  side  of 
the  river,  to  a  settlement  smaller,  and  less  likely  to 
be  the  object  of  hostile  operations  than  a  town 
which  was  then  the  seat  of  government  of  the 
State.  Here,  in  a  house  near  the  place  of  landing, 
he  deposited  the  trunks  containing  his  books,  his 
plate,  and  all  the  most  valuable  articles  of  portable 
properly  which  the  enemy  and  his  frequent  remo- 
vals had  left  him.  In  this  place  he,  as  well  as  all 
whom  he  had  consulted  on  liie  subject,  considered 
them  as  perfectly  safe,  and  supposed  all  furth.er 
precaution  to  be  unnecessary.  In  a  few  hours, 
however,  after  they  were  thus  deposited,  an  aged 
and  illiterate  German,  with  whom  he  was  but  lit- 
tle acquainted,  and  whom  he  chiefly  knew  as  a 
great  friend  to  the  clergy  and  to  the  American 
cause,  came  to  him  late  at  nisiht,  and  with  much 
apparent  anxiety,  asked  him  where  he  had  left  his 
baggage.  The  Doctor  informed  him.  He  replied, 
with  earnestness,  "  it  must  be  removed  this  night." 
It  was  in  vain  that  the  distance  of  the  place  of  de- 
posit, which  was  several  miles  ;  the  late  hour  of 
the  night;  the  impossibility  of  obtaining  the  means 
of  transportation  until  the  next  day,  and  the  sup- 
posed safety  of  the  baggage  in  its  then  situation, 
were  urged.  The  honest  German,  to  all  these 
suggestions,  had  nothing  else  to  reply  than  "I  tell 
you  your  things  must  be  removed  this  night;" 
and  when  he  found  that  no  other  plan  would  an- 
swer, actually  took  a  wagon,  and  went  himself  and 
brought  them  to  the  place  where  the  Doctor  and 


REVOLUTIONARY    WAR.  |55 

his  family  lodged.  It  is  remarkable,  that  before 
the  light  of  tlie  next  morning  dawned,  the  house 
in  winch  this  baggage  had  been  deposited,  was 
burnt  to  ashes  by  the  British  troops! 

Esopus  being  burnt,  the  Doctor  was  compelled 
to  seek  some  other  place  of  residence.  And  con- 
sidering the  towns  on  the  margin  of  the  Hudson  as 
too  much  exposed  to  the  attacks  of  the  enemy,  he 
determined  to  select  a  more  retired  situation.  With 
this  view,  he  made  choice  of  the  town  of  Sharon, 
in  the  State  of  Connecticut,  to  which  he  removed 
his  family  towards  the  end  of  October,  1777,  where 
he  spent  the  following  winter.  During  his  resi- 
dence here,  he  preached  repeatedly  for  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Smith,  the  minister  of  the  town,  but  more  fre- 
quently to  a  congregation  in  the  town  of  Amenia, 
in  Dutchess  county.  New  York,  lying  adjacent  to 
Sharon,  in  which  he  shortly  afterwards  made  a 
temporary  settlement.  The  following  extract  of  a 
letter  from  a  gentleman  residing  in  that  neighbour- 
hood, contains  the  best  accounts  that  could  be  col- 
lected of  his  ministry,  during  the  lime  that  he  spent 
in  Sharon  and  Amenia: 

"  Dr.  Rodgers  came  to  Sharon,  with  his  family, 
in  the  autumn  of  1777,  and  for  several  successive 
Sabbaths  preached  in  the  Rev.  Mr.  Smith's  pulpit, 
to  the  great  acceptance  of  both  pastor  and  people. 
Early  in  the  following  winter,  in  consequence  of 
an  urgent  application,  he  consented  to  supply  a 
congregation  in  the  southeast  part  of  Amenia, 
which  had  become  vacant  by  the  dismission  of  their 
minister,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Knibloe.  The  parish  is 
composed  in  about  equal  numbers  of  inhabitants 
from  the  two  adjoining  States ;  the  soutliern  sec- 
tion of  the  town  of  Sharon,  by  an  early  regulation 
having  been  annexed,  for  parochial  purposes,  to 


156  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR, 

that  part  of  Amenia,  The  church  is  of  the  Con- 
gregalioiial  denomination,  and  stands  connected 
with  the  association  of  Litchfield  county.  At 
their  place  of  worship,  more  than  four  miles  dis- 
tant from  his  abode,  the  Doctor  atteniled  regularly 
every  Sunday,  until  the  opening  of  the  spring, 
when  he  removed  his  family  into  that  neighbour- 
hood. He  has  there  left  lasting  memorials  of  his 
usefulness,  and  his  name  will  be  long  held  in  grate- 
ful and  affectionate  remembrance.  The  society 
was  agitated  by  the  most  unhappy  divisions.  A. 
spirit  of  discord  had  prevailed  for  several  years  be- 
fore the  removal  of  their  minister,  and  was  far 
from  being  quieted  by  that  event.  Under  these 
discouraging  prospects,  the  Doctor  commenced  his 
labours ;  and  by  the  blessing  of  God  they  were 
crowned  with  remarkable  success.  His  mild  and 
condescending,  yet  dignified  deportment,  more  es- 
pecially his  fervent  piety,  the  energy  of  his  public 
addresses,  and  the  sanctity  of  his  life  and  conver- 
sation, effectually  secured  him  the  affection  and 
reverence  of  all  parties.  Harmony  was  soon  re- 
stored, and  has  continued  without  interruption  un- 
til the  present  time.  Shortly  after  his  departure, 
the  people  united  in  building  a  new  and  more  spa- 
cious church,  and  in  making  a  permanent  provision 
for  the  support  of  the  gospel. 

"  But  Dr.  Rodgers  did  not  confine  his  active  and 
useful  exertions  to  the  place  of  his  immediate  re- 
sidence. He  preached  lectures  frequently  in  the 
neighbouring  parishes.  To  a  society  of  freema- 
sons in  Slockbridge,  Massachusetts,  by  particular 
request,  he  delivered  a  sermon,  which  the  society 
procured  to  be  printed,  and  which  was  very  favour- 
ably received  by  the  public.  He  also  made  a  tour 
into  Vermont;  dispensed  the  word  in  the  several 


REVOLUTIONARY   WAR.  \^J 

towns  througli  which  he  passed;  and  every  where 
attracted  the  deep  regard  of  his  hearers.  He  at- 
tended the  various  meetings  of  the  clergy  ;  and  en- 
joyed, in  an  eminent  degree,  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  his  bretliren  in  the  ministry.  They  ad- 
mired him,  not  only  for  those  superior  endowments 
which  constituted  '  his  praise  in  all  the  churches,' 
but  also  for  the  gracefulness  of  his  person  and  man- 
ners, the  charms  of  his  conversation,  and  the  sur- 
prising patience  and  even  cheerfulness  with  which 
he  bore  a  painful  exile,  the  duration  of  which  was 
involved  in  the  most  gloomy  uncertainty.  In  short, 
he  was  respected  and  beloved  by  all  descriptions 
of  men.  And  notwithstanding  those  in  this  part 
of  the  country,  '  who  knew  him  best  and  loved  him 
most,'  have  preceded  him  to  the  grave,  there  are 
still  many  survivors  to  attest,  not  merely  to  his 
talents  as  a  divine,  but  that  no  man  ever  exhibited  a 
more  happy  union  of  all  those  qualities  which  go 
to  form  the  gentleman  and  the  Christian. 

"  Whilst  the  Doctor  remained  at  Amenia,  he  re- 
ceived repeated  and  pressing  solicitations  to  re- 
move to  Danbury,  and  preach  to  the  first  society 
in  that  town.  Perceiving  a  prospect  of  more  ex- 
tensive usefulness  in  that  quarter,  and  of  better  ac- 
commodations for  his  family,  he  at  length  yielded 
to  these  considerations,  and,  to  the  great  regret  of 
the  people  of  Amenia,  left  them  in  the  beginning 
of  the  year  1780." 

It  was  in  the  month  of  April,  in  the  year  above 
mentioned,  that  the  Doctor  removed  with  his  fami- 
ly to  Danbury.  He  found  the  congregation  in 
that  town  in  a  divided  and  broken  slate,  and  labour- 
ing under  all  those  habits  of  coldness,  negligence, 
and  disorder,  which  the  want  of  a  pastor  and  of 
the  regular  administration  of  gospel  ordinances, 


J  58  REVOLUTIONARY   WAR. 

for  several  years  preceding,  might  have  heen  ex- 
pected to  produce.  He  proved  to  them,  as  he  had 
proved  to  the  congregation  of  Amenia,  a  messen- 
ger of  peace.  His  prudence,  wisdom,  and  zeal, 
were,  as  before,  conspicuous.  The  divisions  among 
the  people  were,  in  a  great  measure,  healed  ;  the 
ordinances  of  the  Gospel,  some  of  which  had  been 
long  neglected,  were  regularly  administered  ;  the 
church  was  greatly  edified  and  comforted  ;  and 
numbers  were  added  to  its  communion,  whose  life 
and  conversation  have  since  manifested  the  sin- 
cerity of  their  profession. 

While  Dr.  Rodgers  was  at  Danbury,  though  he 
considered  his  settlement  in  that  place  as  only  tem- 
porary; and  though  he  on  this  account  declined 
being  installed  as  the  pastor  of  the  church,  expect- 
ing, on  the  restoration  of  peace,  to  return  to  his 
pastoral  charge  in  New  York;  yet  he  judged  it 
expedient  to  connect  himself,  in  the  meanwhile, 
with  some  regular  ecclesiastical  body.  He,  there- 
fore, soon  after  his  removal  thither,  joined  the 
western  Assocjntion  of  Fairfield  county,  of  which 
he  remained  a  member  as  long  as  he  resided  in  the 
state.  But  he  did  not  merely  join  the  Association. 
Though  a  firm  Presbyterian  in  principle,  and  a 
full  believer  in  the  apostolic  origin  of  that  form  of 
church  government ;  he  thought  himself  justifiable, 
situated  as  he  then  was,  in  holding  the  most  unre- 
served and  aflectionate  communion  with  churches, 
which,  though  defective,  approach  so  near  to  the 
primitive  model  as  the  (yongregationalists  of  Con- 
necticut. He  therefore  entered,  with  fraternal  cor- 
diality, into  the  whole  ecclesiastical  system,  in  the 
midst  of  wliich  Providence  had  cast  his  lot.  He 
assisted  in  ordaining,  installing,  and  dismissing 
councils;  he  served,  in  his  turn,  as  Moderator  of 


REVOLUTIONARY    WAR.  J  59 

Associations,  and  Consociations ;  and  rendered 
himself  highly  acceptable  to  his  neip;hbouring  bre- 
thren in  the  ministry,  and  to  the  body  of  the  peo- 
ple, by  the  promptness  and  the  zeal  with  which  he 
co-operated  with  tliem  in  all  plans  for  the  general 
advancement  of  religion. 

Although  the  labours  of  Dr.  Rodgers  in  Danbur}* 
were  not  attended  with  any  remarkable  revival  of 
religion,  they  were  by  no  means  without  visible 
success.  The  congregation  was  gradually  re- 
stored to  imion  and  order;  the  children  were  col- 
lected and  instructed ;  the  taste  for  sound  and 
faithful  preaching  evidently  increased;  the  attend- 
ance on  public  ordinances  grew  more  and  more 
general;  and  the  whole  aspect  of  the  congregation, 
when  he  left  it,  was  decidedly  more  favourable 
than  when  he  commenced  his  labours  as  its  pas- 
tor. 

But  the  labours  of  this  venerable  servant  of 
Christ,  though  generally  and  highly  acceptable  to 
the  congregation,  were  not  universally  so.  Some 
of  the  enemies  of  the  truth,  thought  him,  in  many 
of  his  addresses  from  the  pulpit,  too  plain  and 
pointed  to  be  borne.  One  person  in  particular, 
who  held  a  sort  of  pre-eminence  in  this  class,  after 
hearing  one  of  the  Doctor's  most  solemn  and  pun- 
gent sertnons,  declared,  that  "  if  he  ever  went  to 
hear  him  preach  again,  he  hoped  his  arm  might 
rot  from  his  shoulder,"  In  a  few  weeks  after- 
wards, this  person  was  seized  with  a  swelling  in 
his  right  hatul,  which  gradually  extending  u()  his 
arm,  a  mortification  ensued,  and  he  died  misera- 
bly; his  arm,  before  jhis  death,  literally  rotting 
from  his  body.  This  event  made  a  deep  impres- 
sion on   multitudes  ;  though  the  unhappy  victim 


IQO  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

himself,  to  the  last  hour  of  his  life,  discovered  no 
symptoms  of  relenting  or  penitence.* 

Dr.  Rodgers,  while  in  Danbury,  as  had  been  the 
case  in  the  former  places  of  his  residence,  by  no 
means  confined  his  labours  to  his  own  congrega- 
tion. He  was  an  unwearied  labourer  in  the  word 
and  doctrine,  and  an  assiduous  peace-maker,  wher- 
ever he  went.  He  preached  in  vacant  parishes; 
assisted  his  neiglibouring  brethren  in  their  public 
labours;  interposed  with  his  best  advice,  and  con- 
ciliatory persuasion,  in  cases  of  ecclesiastical  divi- 
sion and  difficulty;  and,  in  one  instance  particu- 
larly, was  the  means  of  bringing  about  a  reconci- 
liatiovi  between  a  neighbouring  church,  and  a  re- 
fractory member,  to  effect  which,  the  benevolent 
exertions  of  others  had  long  been  employed  in  vain. 

In  the  spring  of  the  year  1782,  when  the  Doctor 
had  resided  a  little  more  than  two  years  in  Dan- 
bury,  some  circumstances  occurring  which  ren- 
dered his  situation  less  pleasant  than  before,  he 
determined  to  leave  it;  and  being  invited  about  the 
same  time  by  the  church  of  Lamington,  in  Hun- 
terdon county,  New  Jersey,  to  come  and  minister 
to  them,  as  long  as  he  should  remain  an  exile  from 
his  own  people,  he  accepted  their  invitation.  And, 
accordingly,  in  the  month  of  May,  of  that  year,  he 
and  his  family  were  removed  from  Danbury,  at  the 
expense  of  the  congregation  of  Lamington,  and  put 
in  possession  of  their  parsonage  house,  which  he 
continued  to  occupy  until  the  autumn  of  1783. 

The  following  extract  of  a  letter  from  the  Rev. 

*  Tlic  author  never  heard  Dr.  Rodgers  state  this  fact, 
or  allude  to  it.  He  received  it  troin  an  aged  and  venera- 
ble deacon  of  tliat  church,  a  short  time  after  the  death 
ofth   subject  oi' this  memoir. 


REVOLUTIONARY    WAR.  161 

Enoch  Burt,  then  tlie  pastor  of  the  church  of  Lam- 
ington,  presents  a  view  of  the  Doctor's  ministry 
there,  which,  tliough  brief,  will  be  found  conipre- 
liensive  and  satisfactory. 

"  The  regular  pastor  of  this  church,  the  Rev. 
Jeremiah  Halsey,  died  in  October,  1780,  after  a 
ministry  in  this  place  of  about  ten  years.  In 
March,  1781,  the  Rev,  Dr.  Mason,  who  had  pro- 
bably left  the  city  of  New  York  about  the  lime 
that  Dr.  Rodgers  did,  came  to  Lamington,  occu- 
pied the  parsonage  house,  and  preached  occasion- 
ally as  a  supply.  Some  months  afterwards,  the 
congregation,  hearhig  that  Dr.  Rodgers  was  at 
Danbury,  in  Connecticut,  had  a  meeting  for  the 
purpose  of  giving  him  an  invitation  to  take  the 
pastoral  charge  of  them,  during  his  absence  from 
the  city.  The  result  of  this  meeting  was  a  unani- 
mous request  for  that  purpose.  This  request  the 
Doctor  complied  with  ;  and  in  the  month  of  May, 
1782,  his  family  was  removed  by  the  congregation 
to  Lamington,  and  put  in  possession  of  the  parson- 
age, which  he  occupied  during  his  stay  among 
them.  He  continued  from  that  time  until  his  re- 
turn to  New  York,  to  discharge  regularly  all  the 
duties  of  a  pastor  to  this  church,  though  without 
the  forms  of  what  we  denominate  a  regular  call, 
or  installation. 

"  The  Doctor's  ministry  here,  although  attend- 
ed with  no  more  than  ordinary  success,  was  yet 
performed  faithfully,  zealously,  and  with  a  great 
degree  of  plainness  of  speech.  On  this  subject  he 
often  remarked,  that  he  fell  himself  bound  to  adapt 
his  instructions  to  the  very  meanest  capacity  of  his 
hearers;  so  that  none  miglit  remain  unbenefitcd  by 
his  labours.  His  zeal  for  the  visible  honour  and 
word  of  his  Divine  Master,  made  him  jealous  of 
14 


Jg2  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

whatever  appeared  like  disrespect  toward  the  ordi- 
nances of  tlie  gospel.  Something  of  this  will  ap- 
pear from  the  following  circnmstance.  It  was,  at 
that  day,  very  common  here,  to  see  individuals 
rise  from  their  seats  during  the  course  of  the  ser- 
mon, and  almost  as  soon  as  risen,  turning  their 
backs  toward  the  speaker.  This  practice  appear- 
ed to  him  so  much  like  visible  disrespect  to  the 
word  of  God,  that  he  viewed  it  with  indignation, 
and  ceased  not  to  reprobate  it  publicly  in  the 
strongest  terms,  until  he  had  entirely  abolished 
the  practice. 

"  He  manifested  continually,  that  it  was  the  de- 
sire and  joy  of  his  heart  to  see  Ziou  prosper.  Of 
this  there  were  many  proofs  during  liis  residence 
in  Lamington.  One  example  shall  suffice.  Hear- 
ing, while  here,  of  a  revival  of  religion  at  Red- 
stone, in  Pennsylvania,  and  that  the  inhabitants  of 
that  district  of  country  were  but  partially  supplied 
with  copies  of  the  Scriptures,  he  opened  a  sub- 
scription in  the  congregation,  and  obtained  a  con- 
siderable sum,  with  which  he  purchased  Bibles, 
and  sent  them  thither. 

"  He  made  it  his  business,  while  here,  to  visit 
the  schools  in  the  congregation,  to  examine  and 
catechize  the  children,  and  to  do  every  thing  in  his 
power  for  their  encouragement  and  religious  in- 
struction. 

"  On  the  whole,  although  Dr.  Rodgers'  minis- 
try at  Lamington,  was  not  attended  with  any  re- 
markable power,  or  signal  success,  at  the  time, 
yet  there  is  an  abundant  reason  to  believe  that  it 
was  far  from  being  in  vain  ;  that  he  obtained  here 
some  seals  of  his  niinislry,  which  will  be  crowns 
of  his  rejoicing  in  the  day  of  the  Lord;  and  that 
the  precious  seed  of  the  word,  which  he  here  scat- 


REVOLUTIONARY   WAR.  1(33 

tered,  with  a  diligent  and  skilful  hand,  Ims  since 
sprung  up,  and  borne  fruit,  to  everlasting  life." 

In  a  short  time  after  the  definitive  treaty  of  peace 
was  signed,  the  disbanding  of  the  American  armies 
commenced.  About  this  time  Dr.  Rodgers,  whose 
mind  was  ever  busily  employed  in  forming  plans 
of  piety  and  benevolence,  suggested  to  some  lead- 
ing persons  the  propriety  of  presenting  to  each 
soldier,  on  retiring  from  service,  a  Bible.  The 
war  had,  of  course,  entirely  suspended  the  impor- 
tation of  Bibles  from  Great  Britain;  and  they  had 
become,  prior  to  the  year  1781,  extremely  scarce 
in  this  country.  Under  these  circumstances,  it 
was  found,  as  might  naturally  have  been  expected, 
that  the  needy  soldiery  were  almost  wholly  desti- 
tute of  copies  of  the  Scriptures.  In  the  year  last 
mentioned,  an  enterprising  printer  and  bookseller 
of  Philadelphia,'-  printed  a  large  edition  of  the 
Bible.  This  event,  however,  though  it  removed 
the  difficulty  arising  from  the  scarcity  of  copies  of 
the  sacred  volume,  by  no  means  supplied  the  army. 
Dr.  Rodgers  determined  to  interest  himself,  and  to 
take  measures  for  prevailing  with  others  to  interest 
themselves,  in  furnishing  the  defenders  of  their 
country  with  so  valuable  a  present.  Among  those 
whom  he  endeavoured  to  engage  in  this  pious  de- 
sign, was  the  commander  in  chief,  to  whom  he 
addressed  a  letter,  congratulating  him  on  the  resto- 

*  Mr.  Robert  Aitkin.  His  duodecimo  Bible,  printed  in 
1781,  was  the  first  Bible,  in  the  Engrlish  language,  ever 
printed  in  North  America.  Five  years  before,  (1776,)  Mr. 
Christopher  Sower  had  printed,  at  Germantown,  near  Phi- 
ladelphia,  a  quarto  edition  of  the  Bible,  in  German;  and 
more  than  a  hundred  3'cars  before,  (IGGl,")  tlie  Rev.  John 
Eliot  had  printed,  at  Cambridge,  in  ^Massachusetts,  an  edi- 
tion of  the  Bible  in  the  language  of  the  Natick  Indians. 


2()4  REVOLUTIONARY   WAR. 

ration  of  peace,  and  proposing  the  exertion  of  his 
influence  for  the  attainment  of  this  desirable  end. 
The  following  answer  to  the  Doctor's  letter,  while 
it  serves  to  assign  one  of  the  reasons  why  his  pions 
plan  did  not  succeed,  will  also  furnish  another  tes- 
timony to  the  uniform  dignity  and  greatness  of  the 
wonderful  man  by  whom  it  was  written. 

"  Head  Quarters,  11th  June,  1783. 
"Dear  Sir, 

"  I  accept,  with  much  pleasure,  your  kind  con- 
gratulations on  the  happy  event  of  Peace,  with  the 
establishment  of  our  Liberties  and  Independence. 
"  Glorious  indeed  has  been  our  contest:  glorious, 
if  we  consider  the  prize  for  which  we  have  con- 
tended, and  glorious  in  its  issue.  But  in  the  midst 
of  our  joys,  I  hope  we  shall  not  forget,  that  to  Di- 
vine Providence  is  to  be  ascribed  the  glory  and 
the  praise. 

"  Your  proposition  respecting  Mr.  Aitkin's  Bible, 
would  have  been  particularly  noticed  by  me,  had  it 
been  suggested  in  season.  But  the  late  resolution 
of  Congress  for  discharging  part  of  the  army  tak- 
ing ofi"  near  two  thirds  of  our  numbers,  it  is  now 
too  late  to  make  the  attempt.  It  would  have  pleas- 
ed me  well,  if  Congress  had  been  pleased  to  make 
such  an  important  present  to  the  brave  fellows  who 
have  done  so  much  for  the  security  of  their  coun- 
try's rights  and  establishment, 

"  I  hope  it  will  not  be  long  before  you  will  be 
able  to  go  quietly  to  New  York.  Some  patience, 
however,  will  yet  be  necessary.  But  patience  is 
a  noble  virtue,  and,  when  rightly  exercised,  does 
not  fail  of  its  reward. 

"  With  much  regard  and  esteem,  I   am,  dear 
Doctor,  Your  most  obedient  servant, 

"  Go.  Washington." 


REVOLUTIONARY   WA.R.  165 

"  P.  S.  Be  so  good  as  to  inform  me  whether 
Mrs.  Tliompson  is  living  with  you,  or  gone  into 
New  York  ?  Before  I  retire  from  sevice,  it  is  my 
wish  to  rentier  her  what  is  owing  to  her.* 

"  Rev.  Dr.  Rodgers.  G.  W." 

While  Dr.  Rodgers  was  thus  a  sojourner,  and 
variously,  but  always  usefully,  employed,  during 
l)is  exile  from  New  York,  it  may  be  proper  to  in- 
quire, what  was  going  on,  in  the  mean  time,  iii 
that  city,  in  relation  to  his  ail'airs,  and  the  interests 
of  the  church  with  which  he  was  connected. 

The  British  armies,  in  the  course  of  the  revo- 
lutionary contest,  whenever  they  had  an  oppor- 
tunity, manifested  a  peculiar  hostility  to  the  Pres- 
byterian Church.  This  hostility,  prompted  partly 
by  sectarian  rancour,  and  pardy  by  the  considera- 
tion, that  the  Presbyterians  were  generally  favour- 
able to  the  American  cause,  was  displayed  by  many 
acts  of  violence  and  indignity  of  the  most  wanton 
kind.t    The  Presbyterian  churches  in  New  York, 

*  This  postscript,  though  irrelative  to  the  main  subjects 
of  the  latter,  is  retained,  not  only  as  another  example  of 
the  scrupulous  justice  of  the  illustrious  writer ;  but  also 
to  show  that  he  had  a  mind  which,  while  it  grasped  great 
objects,  was  capable  of  attending  to  minute  details. 

t  Tiic  following  is  extracted  from  a  note  in  a  Sermon, 
delivered  and  published  by  Dr.  Rodgers,  entitled,  A  Ser- 
mon preached  in  New  York,  Dec.  11,  1783,  appointed  by 
Congress,  as  a  day  of  public  thanksgiving  throughout  the 
United  States,  p.  26.  "  It  is  much  to  be  lamented,  that 
the  troops  of  a  nation  that  has  been  considered  as  one  of 
the  bulwarks  of  the  Reformation,  should  act  as  if  they  had 
waged  war  with  the  God  whom  Christians  adore.  They 
have,  in  the  course  of  this  war,  utterly  destroyed  more 
than  fifty  places  of  public  worship,  in  these  states.  Most 
of  these  they  burnt,  others  they  leveled  with  tlie  ground, 
and  in  some  places  left  not  a  vestige  of  their  former  sit- 
uation ;  while  they  have  wantonly  defaced,  or.  rather  dc- 


JgQ  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

were  the  objects  of  special  vengeance.  The  church 
in  Wall  street  was  immediately  seized,  and  con- 
verted into  barracks;  and  that  in  Beekman  street 
into  an  hospital.  It  is  hardly  necessary  to  add, 
that  in   preparing   them    for   these   purposes    re- 

stroyed  others,  by  converting  them  into  barracks,  jails, 
hospitals,  riding  schools,  &c.  Boston,  Newport,  Phila- 
delphia, and  Charleston,  all  furnished  melancholy  instances 
of  this  prostitution,  and  abuse  of  the  houses  of  God:  and 
of  the  nineteen  places  of  public  worship  in  this  city,  when 
the  war  began,  there  were  but  nine  fit  for  use,  when  the 
British  troops  left  it.  It  is  true.  Trinity  church,  and  the 
old  Lutheran,  were  destroyed  by  the  fire,  that  laid  waste 
so  great  a  part  of  the  city,  a  few  nights  after  tlie  enemy 
took  possession  of  it ;  and  therefore  they  are  not  charged 
with  designedly  burning  them,  though  they  were  the  oc- 
casion of  it;  for  there  can  be  no  doubt,  after  all  that  ma- 
lice has  said  to  the  contrary,  but  the  fire  was  occasioned 
by  the  carelessness  of  their  people,  and  they  prevented  its 
more  speedy  extinguishment.  But  the  ruinous  situation 
in  which  they  lell  two  of  the  Low  Dutch  Reformed 
churches,  the  three  Presbyterian  churches,  the  French 
Protestant  church,  the  Anabaptist  church,  and  the  Friends' 
new  raeeting-house,  was  the  ctFect  of  design,  and  strongly 
marks  their  enmity  to  those  societies." 

Concerning  the  Middle  Dutch  ciiurch,  in  Nassau  street, 
which  in  the  beginning  of  the  war,  was  used  by  the  Bri- 
tish garrison  as  a  prison,  and  afterwards  turned  into  a 
riding  school,  the  venerable  Dr.  Livingston  tims  expresses 
himself  in  a  sermon,  delivered  July  4th,  17'J0,  when  it 
was  for  the  first  time  opened  for  public  worship,  after 
being  repaired:  "I  dare  not  speak  of  the  wanton  cruelty 
of  those  who  destroyed  this  temple,  nor  repeat  the  various 
indignities  which  have  been  perpetrated.  It  would  be 
easy  to  mention  facts  which  would  chill  your  blood !  A 
rccollectiou  of  the  groans  of  dying  prisoners,  which  pierc- 
ed this  ceiling;  or  the  sacrilegious  sports  and  rough  feats 
of  horsemanship  exhibited  witliiii  these  walls,  might  raise 
sentiments  in  your  minds  tliat  would,  perhaps,  not  har- 
monize with  tiiosc  religious  aifections,  which  I  wish,  at 
present,  to  promote,  and  always  to  cherish." 


REVOLVTIONARY    WAR.  [Q'^ 

spectively,  they  were  not  only  defaced,  but  almost 
entirely  stripped  of  their  appropriate  interior;  and 
(hat  they  were  left  in  a  most  ruinous  condition. 
Nor  was  this  all.  The  parsonage  house,  belong- 
ing to  the  congregration,  was,  during  the  same 
period,  destroyed.  It  fell  a  prey  to  the  dreadful 
lire,  which  consumed  so  large  a  portion  of  the  city, 
in  a  few  weeks  after  the  British  troops  took  pos- 
session of  it,  in  the  autumn  of  1776. 

In  the  spring  of  the  year  1783,  when  it  became 
known  that  the  preliminary  articles  of  peace  with 
Great  Britain  had  been  signed,  an  intercourse  be- 
gan to  take  place  between  the  city  of  New  York, 
and  the  adjacent  country.  On  the  commencement 
of  this  intercourse,  many  of  the  old  inhabitants  of 
the  city  returned  from  their  exile  ;  and  among  these 
were  some  of  the  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
churches.  In  the  course  of  the  ensuing  summer 
a  few  more  returned.  But  the  larger  portion  re- 
mained in  their  various  places  of  retirement  until 
the  evacuation  of  the  city  by  the  British  troops, 
which  took  place  on  the  25th  of  November,  1783. 
On  the  26th,  the  day  after  the  evacuation.  Dr. 
Rodgers  returned  with  his  family  to  the  city;  and 
in  a  short  time  afterwards,  the  great  body  of  the 
exiles  were  restored  to  their  former  habitations. 

In  taking  a  retrospect  of  the  conduct  and  cha- 
racter of  Dr.  Rodgers,  with  reference  to  the  revo- 
lutionary war,  it  will  be  nothing  more  than  justice 
to  his  memory,  and  may  not  be  unprofilablc  to 
others,  to  make  two  or  three  general  remarks. 

The  first  is,  that  although  constitutionally,  as 
well  as  by  habit,  a  prudent  and  cautious  man,  and 
perhaps  sometimes  so  to  an  extreme;  yet  when 
the  path  of  duty  became  perfectly  plain,  he  pur- 
sued it  with  fearless  intrepidity.  This  was  the  case 


2(38  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

with  respect  to  the  American  contest.  The  de- 
cision with  which  he  acted  in  that  contest,  was 
beyond  what  was  usual  with  him.  A  gentleman 
of  great  political  eminence  in  the  United  Stales,* 
who  was  much  with  him,  and  had  the  best  oppor- 
tunity of  observing  his  conduct,  during  that  inter- 
esting period;  and  who  is  also  of  a  different  reli- 
gious denomination,  expresses  himself,  in  a  com- 
munication on  the  subject,  in  the  following  respect- 
ful terms.  "The  lale  Dr.  Rodgers  appeared  to 
me  a  Christian  and  a  gentleman.  Believing  ihe 
opposition  of  America  to  be  right,  he  adhered  to 
her  cause ;  and  was  a  good  whig,  because  he  was 
a  good  Christian.  Being  chaplain  to  the  Conven- 
tion, he  followed  that  body  from  place  to  place, 
with  much  personal  inconvenience,  and  I  believe 
too,  at  a  considerable  pecuniary  sacrifice," 

A  second  remark  is,  that,  while  he  was  a  firm, 
and  even  an  ardent  whig,  yet  he  did  not  forget  that 
he  was  a  minister  of  Jesus  Christ;  and  never  fail- 
ed to  make  tire  latter  his  prominent  character. 
"When  a  Christian  minister  ventures  much  into  the 
society  of  political  men,  and  suffers  his  attention  to 
be  habitually  occupied  with  their  schemes  and 
measures;  and  especially  when  he  undertakes,  in 
his  public  prayers  and  sermons,  to  expatiate  freely 
on  the  political  events  of  the  day,  he  attempts  a 
task  as  dilHcult  as  it  is  delicate.  Nay,  it  may  not 
be  going  too  far  to  say,  that  he  undertakes  a  task 
in  which  his  ministerial  feelings  and  character  will 
seklom  wliolly  escape  injury.  'J'he  truth  of  this 
remark,  if  the  writer  is  not  greatly  deceived,  was 
often  exemplified  during  the  revolutionary  war. 
The  conduct  of  many  of  the  clergy,  and  especially 

*  The  lion.  Gouvcrncur  Morris,  Esq. 


REVOLUTIONARY    WAR.  1G9 

of  those  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  in  the  course 
of  that  struggle,  was  indeed  nobly  patriotic,  and 
eminently  useful.  Yet  it  may  be  seriously  doubted, 
whether  some  of  them,  in  tlieir  zeal,  did  not,  now 
and  then,  in  their  public  ministrations,  a?  well  as 
in  their  private  intercourse,  overstep  the  bounds  of 
propriety;  and  appear  more  like  politicians,  plead- 
ing an  earihly  cause,  than  servants  of  the  meek  and 
benevolent  Jesus,  referring  every  thing  to  his  wise 
and  holy  government,  and  breathing  peace  on  earth 
and  good  will  toward  men.*     It  would,  perhaps, 

*  It  has  been  said,  and  doubtless  with  truth,  tliat  wiiile 
many  pious  ministers,  and  other  Cliristians  in  America, 
during  the  revolutionary  war,  were  praying,  in  public  and 
in  private,  that  the  councils  of  Great  Britain  might  be 
overthrown;  that  defeat  and  destruction  might  attend  their 
military  and  naval  armaments;  and  that  victory,  in  every 
quarter,  might  crown  our  arms  ;  thousands  of  pious  per- 
sons, on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic,  were  praying,  in 
the  same  language,  against  America,  and  in  favour  of  Bri- 
tish oppressions.  Is  it  possible  to  suppose  that  such  oppo- 
site ])etitions,  on  the  same  subject,  were  equally  acceptable 
to  Ilim  who  hears  prayer  ?  It  is  not  possible.  But  it  may 
be  asked,  where  is  the  remedy  for  such  occurrences?  The 
remedy  lies  in  ministers  and  others,  when  they  address  the 
throne  of  grace,  being  less  of  politicians,  and  more  of 
Christians.  It  is  plain  that,  if  men  were  less  prone  to  pre- 
scribe to  the  Most  High  in  prayer,  and  more  ready  to 
adopt  those  humble,  submissive,  and  filial  forms  of  peti- 
tion, of  which  the  Saered  Volume  gives  so  many  noble 
examples,  real  Christians,  in  difierent  countries,  even  in 
the  midst  of  war,  might  meet  at  the  throne  of  grace,  as  on 
common  territory,  and  unite  in  precisely  the  same  requests. 
Some  have  been  inconsiderate  enough  to  allege,  that  a 
remedy  for  all  this  dilHculty  may  be  found,  as  far  as  pray- 
ers are  concerned,  in  the  adoption  of  stated  forms  of 
prayer.  But  if  such  persons  had  an  opportunity  of  peru- 
sing a  few  of  the  "forms"  and  "oflices,"  prepared  "by 
authority,"  to  be  used  on  fast  and  thanksgiving  days,  and 
in  "  times  of  war,"  in  countries  where  liturgies  are  esta- 


JYO  REVOLUTIONARY    AVAR. 

be  extravagant  praise  to  say,  that  Dr.  Roclgers, 
amidst  the  contagion  of  the  times,  was,  in  tliis  re- 
spect, wholly  free  from  fault.  But  he  was  certainly 
much  more  free  from  the  fault  in  question,  than 
most  of  those  active  clergymen  of  the  day,  who 
took  the  same  side,  and  possessed  as  much  ardour 
of  mind,  as  himself.  Wherever  he  went,  he 
set  a  noble  example  of  devotedness  to  the  minis- 
try of  reconciliation.  Whether  he  addressed  con- 
ventions, or  legislatures,  brigades  of  soldiers,  or 
Christian  churclies,  the  peculiar  and  precious  doc- 
trines of  the  gospel  were  not  only  the  constant, 
but  the  leading  subjects  of  discourse.  And  the 
tendency  of  all  his  preaching,  was  to  lead  the 
minds  of  liis  hearers  from  this  scene  of  conflict  and 
change,  of  sin  and  sorrow,  to  a  more  holy  and  hap- 
py world. 

Finally;  Dr.  Rodgers,  amidst  all  the  decision 
with  which  he  thought,  and  the  firmness  with 
which  he  acted,  during  the  struggle  for  American 
Independence,  was  distinguished  for  his  liberality 
toward  those,  who  adopted  difTerent  opinions,  and 
took  a  different  course.  He  was  remarkably  free 
from  the  bitterness  of  party  animosity,  and  ever 
ready  to  make  allowance  for  the  diversity  of  views 

Wished,  they  would  frequently  find  much  of  their  contents 
quite  as  exceptionable,  botli  in  spirit  and  expression,  as 
what  sometimes  falls  from  the  lips  in  extemporaneous  fer- 
vour. With  this  difference,  that  in  the  one  case,  the  evil 
is  eonfmcd  to  its  innnediate  authors;  while  in  the  other, 
it  is  imposed  on  thousands,  and  forced  into  every  reading- 
desk  into  which  the  form  is  introduced.  There  is  no 
remedy  to  be  hoped  for  iiom  this  quarter.  It  is  to  be 
found  in  the  prevalence  among  ministers  of  the  gospel,  of 
})iety,  good  sense,  sound  judgment,  and  minds  deeply  im- 
bued with  the  language  and  the  spirit  of  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures. 


NEW   TORE.  171 

and  of  conduct,  which  he  had  occasion  to  observe 
in  others.  Those  who  are  acquainted  with  the 
history  of  his  private  friendships,  and  of  his  affec- 
tionate; correspondence,  after  the  melanclioly  dis- 
ruption of  social  bonds  which  the  revolution,  in  so 
many  cases,  produced,  cannot  doubt  that  "  the  law 
of  kindness"  was  in  his  heart,  as  well  as  upon  his 
lips.  The  same  gentleman  who  was  last  adduced 
as  a  witness  of  the  Doctor's  patriotism,*  thus 
speaks,  in  the  same  communication,  on  this  part 
of  his  character.  "  In  his  opinion  of  others,  he 
showed  the  liberality  of  a  gentleman.  Not  soured 
by  that  intolerant  spirit  which  assails,  and  some- 
limes  subdues,  clerical  men  of  great  talents  and 
worth,  he  had  not  only  the  faith,  and  the  hope,  but 
also  the  charity  of  a  Christian." 


CHAPTER  Vn. 

From  the  Revolutionary  War  till  his  last  illness. 

The  situation  in  which  the  subject  of  this  memoir, 
and  the  remains  of  his  flock,  found  themselves  on 
returning  from  their  exile,  may  be  more  easily 
imagined  than  described.  Their  numbers  greatly 
reduced  by  death,  and  by  permanent  removals  to 
the  country;  the  pecuniary  resources  of  all  of 
them  impaired,  and  mnny  of  them  exhausted; 
both  their  houses  of  worship  in  a  state  little  short 
of  complete  ruin;  their  parsonage  burnt;  and  a 
considerable  debt  accumulated  in  consequence  of 

*  Mr.  Morris. 


172  ^^^   YORK. 

their  long  exclusion  from  the  city — it  may  be  sup- 
posed that  nothing  but  Cliristian  faith  could  have 
preserved  them  from  total  discouragement.  This 
faitli  they  were  enabled,  in  some  degree,  to  exer- 
cise. They  trusted  in  the  faithfulness  of  the  great 
Head  of  the  Church  ;  in  His  name  they  lifted  up 
their  banner;  and  He  did  not  either  forsake  them 
or  disappoint  their  hopes. 

The  Hrst  and  most  serious  difllculty  which  pre- 
sented itself,  was  the  want  of  a  place  of  worship. 
A  number  of  months,  it  was  perceived,  must  ne- 
cessarily intervene  before  either  of  their  churches 
could  be  prepared  for  the  reception  of  a  worship- 
ing assembly.  In  this  extremity,  the  vestry  of 
Trinity  church,  unsolicited,  and  with  a  politeness 
which  did  them  honour,  made  an  ofi'er  of  St. 
George's  and  St.  Paul's  churches,  to  be  used  by 
the  congregation  alternately,  until  one  of  their  own 
churches  could  be  repaired.  This  offer  was  grate- 
fully accepted  ;  and  from  November,  1783,  until 
the  following  June,  the  remains  of  the  congrega- 
tion alternately  worshipped,  in  conformity  with  a 
settled  arrangement,  in  the  spacious  edifices  just 
mentioned. 

In  a  few  days  after  Dr.  Rodgers  recommenced 
his  ministration  in  New  York,  the  day  which 
had  been  recommended  by  Congress  to  be  ob- 
served throughout  the  United  States  as  a  day  of 
thanksgiving  and  prayer,  arrived.  On  this  occa- 
sion he  delivered  a  sermon  on  Psal.  cxxvi.  3,  which 
was  afterwards  publisheil  under  the  following  title  : 
"  The  Divine  Goodness  displayed  in  the  American 
Kevolution."*     This  was  the  second  publication 

*  This  sermon  was  delivered  December  11th,  1783,  in 
St.  George's  chapel. 


NEW   YORK.  I '^3 

he  ever  made;*  and  it  is  valuable,  not  only  on  the 
account  of  the  pious  and  judicious  discussion  of  its 
subject,  in  a  religious  view,  but  also  on  account  of 
the  historical  matter  with  which  the  body  of  the 
discourse  and  the  notes  are  enriched. 

It  being  found  that  the  Brick  church,  in  Beek- 
man  street,  had  sufTered  less  from  the  ravages  of 
the  enemy,  and  could  be  repaired  more  speedily, 
and  at  much  less  expense  than  the  church  in  Wall 
street,  it  was  determined  to  attempt  the  restoration 
of  the  former  without  delay.  The  work  was  im- 
mediately commenced,  and  completed  in  about  six 
months,  at  an  expense  of  between  three  and  four 
thousand  dollars.  It  was  first  opened  for  public 
worship,  after  being  repaired,  on  the  27th  of  June, 
1784,  when  the  Doctor  delivered  a  sermon  on 
Psalm  cxxii.  1  :  "  I  was  glad  when  they  said  unto 
me.  Let  us  go  into  the  house  of  the  Lord." 

As  long  as  the  congregation  continued  to  meet 
in  churches  belonging  to  another  denomination,  it 
was  not  easy  to  draw  the  line  between  stated  and 
occasional  worshippers.  The  opening  of  the  Brick 
church  furnished  tlie  first  opportunity  of  drawing 
this  line,  and  of  determining  the  real  strength  of 
the  congregation.  The  result  was  more  favourable 
than  could  have  been  expected.  It  soon  became 
apparent  that  the  demand  for  pews  could  not  be 
supplied,  and  that  another  church  was  indispensa- 
ble for  the  accommodation  of  the  people.     It  was 

*  The  first  was  a  sermon  under  tlie  foUowintr  title  : 
"  Holiness  the  nature  and  design  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ: 
A  Sermon  preached  at  Stockbridg-e,  June  24tii,  1779,  before 
the  Lodge  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons  of  Berkshire 
county,  State  of  Massachusetts ;  and  published  by  their 
request."  This  sermon  was  preached  and  published  du- 
ring the  Doctor's  residence  at  Anienia. 


2*74  ^^^^    VORK. 

resolved,  therefore,  as  soon  as  the  necessary  funds 
could  be  procured,  to  undertake  the  repairing  of 
the  churcli  in  Wall  street. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Treat  did  not  return  to  the  city- 
after  the  close  of  the  war.  Some  considerations 
of  a  personal  nature  induced  him  to  remain  in  the 
country  until  the  summer  of  the  year  1784,  when, 
on  the  1st  day  of  July,  the  congregation  assembled, 
and,  among  other  resolutions,  unanimously  adopted 
the  following  :  "  Resolved,  That  this  congregation 
can  support  but  one  minister.  Resolved,  That 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Rodgers  be  that  minister.  Resolved, 
That  a  committee  be  appointed  to  apply  to  the 
moderator  of  the  Presbytery,  and  request  him  to 
call  a  meeting  of  that  body  as  soon  as  convenient, 
that  we  may  apply,  in  a  regular  manner,  for  a 
liberation  of  this  congregation  from  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Treat,  as  one  of  our  ministers."  This  application 
to  the  Presbytery  was  regularly  prosecuted ;  and 
on  the  20th  day  of  October  following,  at  Elizabeth- 
town,  the  pastoral  relation  between  Mr.  Treat  and 
the  congregation  of  New  York  was  dissolved. 

In  the  month  of  March,  1784,  Dr.  Rodgers,  and 
such  of  the  elders  and  deacons  as  had  returned 
from  exile,  presented  a  petition  to  the  corporation 
of  the  city,  praying  a  remission  of  the  arrears  of 
rent,  which  had  accumulated  during  the  war,  on 
the  lot  upon  which  the  Brick  church  was  erected, 
and  also  requesting  a  reduction  of  the  annual  rent 
of  the  said  lot.  The  prayer  of  the  petition,  with 
respect  to  both  these  points,  was  granted.  The 
back  rents,  amounting  to  between  seven  and  eight 
hundred  dollars,  were  all  remitted  ;  and  the  annual 
rent  was  reduced  from  one  hundred  dollars  to 
nearly  half  that  sum. 

The  Legislature  of  tlie  State,  in  their  first  ses- 


NEW    \^RK.  175 

sion  after  the  conclusion  of  peace,  passed  an  act 
enlilled  "  An  act  to  enable  all  the  religious  denomi- 
nations in  this  State  to  appoint  Trustees,  who  shall 
be  a  body  corporate,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  care 
of  the  temporalities  of  their  respective  congrega- 
tions, and  ibr  other  purposes  therein  mentioned." 
This  act,  which  is  dated  April  6th,  1784,  at  once 
afforded  relief  from  all  the  vexations  and  injuries 
which  had  been  so  long  sustained,  for  want  of  a 
charter,  under  the  oppressions  of  the  provincial 
government.  In  the  course  of  the  following  month, 
the  Presbyterian  congregation  met,  and  became  a 
body  corporate,  agreeably  to  the  provisions  of  the 
act,  under  the  style  of  "  The  First  Presbyterian 
Church  in  the  City  of  New  York."  The  first 
trustees  were,  Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston,  Joseph 
Hallet,  William  Neilson,  Daniel  McCJormick,  Dan- 
iel Phtenix,  Eleazcr  Miller,  Samuel  Broome,  Ar- 
chibald Currie,  and  John  McKesson.  Dr.  Rodgers, 
and  the  other  surviving  gentlemen,  to  whom  the 
Brick  church,  and  the  lot  on  which  it  stands,  had 
been  conveyed  in  trust,  re-conveyed  them  to  this 
corporation  soon  after  it  was  constituted. 

'J'he  numerous  applications  for  pews,  mentioned 
in  a  former  page,  induced  the  newly  elected  trus- 
tees, with  the  advice  of  the  other  ollicers  and  mem- 
bers of  the  congregation,  to  hasten  the  repairing  of 
the  Wall  street  church.  The  work  was  accord- 
ingly commenced  in  the  autumn  of  1784,  and 
completed,  at  an  expense  of  between  six  and  seven 
thousand  dollars,  in  the  month  of  June  following.* 
On  the  19lh  day  of  that  month  it  was  opened  for 

*  The  whole  of  the  interior  of  the  Wall  street  chureh 
had  been  destroyed  during  the  war.  Nothing  but  the 
walls  and  the  roof,  or  rather  the  principal  timbers  of  the 
roof,  were  left. 


I'JQ  NEW    YORK. 

public  worship,  and  a  sermon  preached  by  Dr. 
Rodgers,  from  Psahii  Ixxxiv.  1,  2.  The  pews  on 
the  groimd  floor  were  all  immediately  taken,  and 
a  number  of  those  in  the  gallery. 

The  expense  of  repairing  these  churches  was 
defrayed  by  subscription.  And  as  this  subscrip- 
tion was  taken  up  at  a  period  peculiarly  inauspi- 
cious for  raising  money,  a  more  than  common 
share  of  address,  patience,  and  perseverance,  was 
necessary  for  prosecuting  it  with  success.  Dr. 
Rodgers,  as  usual,  shrunk  from  no  task  that  was 
assigned  him.  He  Avent  from  door  to  door,  for  a 
number  of  weeks,  begging  for  the  church  ;  and 
chiefly  to  his  exertions,  under  God,  may  the  speedy 
and  happy  accomplishment  of  the  undertaking  be 
ascribed. 

Toward  the  close  of  the  year  1784,  Mr.  James 
Wilson,  a  licensed  candidate  for  the  gospel  minis- 
try, arrived  in  ]Se\v  York  from  Scotland.  It  was 
perceived  that  when  the  Wall  street  church,  which 
was  then  repairing,  should  be  completed,  a  second 
minister  would  be  absolutely  necessary  for  the 
maintenance  of  regular  service  in  both  churches. 
Mr.  Wilson  having  preached  for  several  months, 
on  probation,  to  the  acceptance  of  the  people,  it 
was  determined  to  call  him  to  be  one  of  their  pas- 
tors. This  was  done,  unanimously,  on  the  29th 
(lay  of  April,  1785.  Mr.  Wilson  accepted  the 
call,  and  was  ordained  to  the  work  of  the  gospel 
ministry;  and  installed  collegiate  pastor,  with  Dr 
Rodgers,  of  the  united  churches  of  New  York,  on 
the  lOlh  day  of  August  following. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  the  revolutionary  war, 
the  legislature  of  New  York  passed  an  act,  esta- 
blishing a  board,  styled,  "The  Regents  of  tlie 
University  of  New  York."     The  powers  and  du- 


NEW    YORK.  J  77 

ties  of  this  board  are  highly  important.  To  them 
it  belongs  to  grant  charters  of  incorporation  to  all 
seminaries  of  learning;  to  visit  and  inspect  colleges 
and  oilier  seminaries  ;  and  in  general,  to  watcli 
over  the  interests  of  literature  thronghout  the  state 
Of  this  university  Dr.  Rodgers  was  chosen  Vice- 
Chancellor,  which  place  he  continued  to  occupy 
until  his  death. 

In  the  month  of  May,  in  the  year  178.5,  the 
Synod  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  then  the 
supreme  judicatory  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 
the  United  Stales,  began  to  take  those  steps  for 
revising  the  public  standards  of  the  church,  which 
issued  in  their  adoption  and  establishment  on  the 
present  plan.  Every  step  in  this  system  of  mea- 
sures, affords  evidence  of  the  respect  in  which  the 
subject  of  this  memoir  was  held,  and  the  confi- 
dence reposed  in  his  wisdom  and  tidelity.  He  was 
a  member  of  almost  every  committee  appointed  to 
conduct  the  business.  On  the  23d  day  of  May,  in 
the  year  just  mentioned,  the  synod  being  convened 
in  Philadelphia,  it  was  on  motion  resolved,  "  That 
Dr.  Wiiherspoon,  Dr.  Rodgers,  Dr.  Robert  Smith,* 
Dr.  Patrick  Allison,  Dr.  Samuel  S.  Smith,  Mr. 
John  Woodhull,   Mr.   Cooper,t  Mr.  Laita,!  Dr. 

*  The  Rev.  Dr.  Robert  Smith,  of  Pcqiiea,  Pennsylvania, 
a  gentleman  of  respectal)le  talents  and  learning,  and  of 
eminent  piety.  His  most  important  ]mb!ication  consists 
of  three  sermons  on  Faith,  in  the  fourth  volume  of  the 
American  Preacher.  He  died  about  twelve  years  before 
Dr.  Rodgers. 

t  The  Rev.  Robert  Cooper,  of  Shippensburgh,  Pennsyl- 
vania, afterwards  Doctor  of  Divinity.  Dr.  Cooper  had  a 
remarkably  strong,  sound  mind ;  and  though  late  in  ac- 
quiring an  education,  and  entering  the  ministry,  he  was  a 
divine  of  great  judiciousness,  piety,  and  worth. 

t  The  Kev.  James  Latta,  of  Chestnut  Level,  Pennsylva- 
nia, afterwards  Doctor  of  Divinity.     Dr.  Latta,  for  talents 

15 


178  ^^^^   YORK. 

Duffield,  and  Mr.  Matlhew  Wilson,  be  a  committee 
to  take  into  consideration  the  constitution  of  the 
Cliurch  of  Scotland,  and  other  proteslanl  churches  ; 
and  acrreeably  to  the  general  principles  of  Presby- 
terian government,  complete  a  system  of  general 
rules  for  the  government  of  the  Synod,  and  the 
several  Presbyteries  under  their  inspection,  and 
the  people  in  their  communion ;  and  to  make  report 
of  their  proceedings  herein  at  the  next  meeting  of 
synod." 

The  same  afternoon,  an  overture  was  brought 
into  synod,  "  That,  for  the  better  management  of 
the  churches  under  our  care,  this  synod  be  divided 
into  three  synods ;  and  that  a  general  Synod,  or 
Assembly,  be  constituted  out  of  the  whole."  The 
consideration  of  this  overture  was  postponed  till 
the  next  year. 

On  the  17ih  of  May,  1786,  on  resuming  the 
consideration  of  this  overture,  the  following  motion 
was  introduced  into  the  synod,  and  carried  in  the 
affirmative,  viz  :  ^'Resolved,  That  this  Synod  will 
establish,  out  of  its  own  body,  three  or  more  sub- 
ordinate synods,  out  of  which  shall  be  composed 
a  General  Assembly,  Synod,  or  Council,  agreeably 
to  a  system  hereafter  to  be  adopted."  In  pursu- 
ance of  this  resolution,  the  Rev.  Doctors  Rodgers, 
Smith,   Duffield,*   and   Allison  ;t    and    the   Rev. 

and  learning,  as  well  as  piety,  held  a  high  place  among 
the  clergy  of  his  day.  He  died  at  an  advanced  age,  a  few 
years  before  Dr.  Rodgers.  He  published  a  Discourse  on 
Psalmody,  which  does  honour  to  his  memory. 

*  The  Rev.  George  Dullicld,  D.  D.  Pastor  of  the  church 
in  Pine-street,  Philadclpliia.  This  gentleman  was  distin- 
guished for  the  fervour  ofliis  piety,  liis  intimate  acquaint- 
ance with  the  constitution  of  tlie  Presbyterian  Church,  and 
his  excellent  powers  as  an  extemporary  jjreaclier. 

t  The  Rev.  Patrick  Allison,  D.  D.  was  born  in  Lancas- 
ter county,  Pennsylvania,  in  the  year  1740.    He  received 


NEW   YORE.  179 

Messrs.  Latla,  Martin,  Matthew  Wilson,  Graham, 
Houston,  James  Finley,  and  Hall,  were  appointed 
*'  a  committee  to  prepare  and  report  a  plan  for  the 
division  of  the  synod  into  three  or  more  synods." 
On  the  22d  day  of  May,  in  this  year,  the  com- 
mittee appointed  in  1785,  to  mature  a  system  of 
discipline  and  government  for  the  church,  made 
their  report,  which  was  referred  to  another  com- 
mittee, consisting  of  the  following  gentlemen,  viz: 
the  Rev.  Doctors  Witherspoon,  Rodgers,  McWhor- 
ter,  Sproat,*  Dnffield,  Allison,  Ewing,t  Smith,  and 

his  education  in  the  College  of  Philadelphia;  was  ordained 
to  tlie  work  of  the  gospel  ministry,  and  installed  pastor  of 
the  Presbyterian  cliurch  in  Baltimore,  in  the  year  1762  ; 
where  he  remained  honoured  and  useful  until  his  death, 
which  took  place  in  1802,  in  the  sixty-second  year  of  his 
age.  Dr.  Allison  undoubtedly  held  a  place  in  the  very 
first  rank  of  American  clergy.  He  shone  with  distin- 
guished lustre  in  the  judicatories  of  tlie  church.  For  the 
perspicuity,  the  correctness,  the  sound  reasoning,  and  the 
masculine  eloquence  of  his  speeches,  in  ecclesiastical  as- 
semblies, he  was  long  admired,  and  had  scarcely  an  equal. 

*  The  Rev.  James  Sproat,  D.  D.  was  a  native  of  Scitu- 
ate,  in  Massachusetts,  where  he  was  born  April  11th, 
1721.  He  received  his  education  in  Yale  College;  was 
ordained  to  the  work  of  the  ministry  at  Guilford,  Connec- 
ticut, August  23d,  1743;  was  removed  to  the  pastoral 
charge  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  in  Philadelphia, 
in  March,  1769;  and  died  October  18th,  1793,  in  the 
seventy-third  year  of  his  age.  Dr.  Sproat  was  one  of  the 
most  venerable  and  excellent  ministers  of  his  day. 

t  The  Rev.  John  Ewing,  D.  D.  pastor  of  the  First  Pres- 
byterian cliurcii  in  Philadelphia,  and  Provost  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Pennsylvania.  lie  was  born  at  Nottingham,  in 
Maryland,  June  21st,  1732;  was  graduated  in  the  college 
of  New  Jersey,  then  at  Newark,  in  1754;  was  settled  as 
pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  clmrch  in  1759;  was 
elected  Provost  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  in  1779, 
and  died  September  8th,  1802,  in  the  seventy-first  year  ot 
his  age.     The  eminent  character  of  this  gentleman;  the 


ISO  ^^^    YORK. 

Wilson;  together  Avith  Isaac  Snowden,  Esq.  and 
Mr.  RoI)erl  Taggart,  and  Mr.  John  Pinkerton,  el- 
ders. This  committee  was  directed  to  meet  in 
Philadelphia,  in  the  month  of  September  follow- 
ing; and  was  empowered  to  "digest  such  a  system 
as  they  shall  think  to  be  accommodated  to  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  America,  and  procure 
three  hundred  copies  to  be  printed  and  distributed 
among  the  Presbyteries." 

After  several  meetings,  and  reports,  in  part,  by 
these  committees,  the  Synod,  on  the  28th  day  of 
May,  1788,  completed  the  revision  and  arrange- 
ment of  our  public  standards,  and  finally  adopted 
them,  and  ordered  them  to  be  printed  and  distri- 
buted for  the  government  of  all  the  judicatories  of 
the  Church.  This  new  arrangement  consisted,  in 
dividing  the  body  as  it  formerly  stood  into  four 
synods,  viz.  the  synod  of  New  York  and  New 
Jersey,  the  synod  of  Philadelphia,  the  synod  of 
Virginia,  and  the  synod  of  the  Carol inas  ;  and  con- 
stituting over  these,  as  a  bond  of  union,  a  General 
Assembly,  in  all  essential  particulars  after  the  mo- 
del of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  established 
Church  of  Scotland.  The  Westminster  Confession 
of  Faith,  with  three  inconsiderable  alterations;* 
and  the  Westminster  larger  and  shorter  Catechisms, 

vifjour  of  liis  talents;  the  extent  of  liis  learning;  his  extra- 
ordinary accomplishments  as  the  head  of  a  literary  insti- 
tution; and  his  excellence  as  a  preacher,  are  well  known. 
His  lectures  on  natural  philosophy,  and  a  volume  of  ser- 
mons, will  long  attest  them. 

*  These  alterations  in  the  Westminster  Confession  of 
Faith,  consisted  in  modifying  the  last  section  of  the  twen- 
tietli  chapter,  entitled,  Of  Christian  liiberty,  and  Liberty 
of  Conscience;  the  third  section  of  the  twenty-third  chap- 
ter, entitled,  Of  the  Civil  Magistrate;  and  the  first  section 
of  the  tliirt^'-first  chapter,  entitled,  Of  Synods  and  Councils. 


MEW  YORK.  Igl 

with  one  small  amemlment  in  the  former,*  were 
solemnly  adopted  as  a  summary  exhibition  of  the 
faith  of  the  church.  And  a  Form  of  Government 
and  Discipline,  and  Directory  for  public  worship, 
&c.  drawn  chiefly  from  the  standards  of  the  Church 
of  Scotland,  with  such  alterations  as  the  form  of 
the  civil  government,  and  the  state  of  the  church, 
in  this  country,  required,  completed  the  system. 

The  adopting  acts  above  stated,  were  imme- 
diately followed  by  a  resolution,  declaring",  that 
"  the  true  intent  and  meaning  of  the  above  ratifica- 
tion by  the  synod  is,  that  the  Form  of  Government 
and  Discipline,  and  the  Confession  of  Faitii,  as 
now  ratified,  is  to  continue  to  be  our  constitution, 
and  the  Confession  of  our  Faith  and  practice,  un- 
alterably, unless  two  thirds  of  the  Presbyteries,  un- 
der the  care  of  the  General  Assembly,  shall  pro- 
pose alterations  or  amendments,  and  such  altera- 
tions or  amendments  shall  be  agreed  to  and  enacted 
by  the  General  Assembly." 

The  Synod,  in  adopting  this  system,  though 
nearly  unanimous,  was  not  entirely  so.  In  the 
course  of  the  ample  discussion  which  took  place 
on  the  subject,  a  plan  of  church  government  was 
proposed  more  nearly  approaching  to  the  congre- 
gational form,  than  that  which  was  finally  preferred. 
The  principal  advocate  of  this  plan,  was  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Matthew  Wilson,  of  Lewes,  in  the  state  of 
Delaware,  a  gentleman  of  great  piety,  learning, 
and  benevolence,!  who  had  objections  almost  in- 

*  This  single  amendment  in  the  Larger  Catechism, 
consisted  in  expunging  the  words  "  the  tolerating  of  a 
false  religion,"  from  the  answer  to  tiie  lUyth  question, 
"  What  are  the  sins  forbidden  in  the  second  command- 
ment ?  " 

t  The  writer  of  those  pages  embraces,  with  particular 


Ig2  NEW   "XORK. 

vincible,  against  the  rigid  Presbyterianism  of  Scot- 
land, and  who  was  not  without  difficulty  reconcil- 
ed to  the  mitigated  form  of  it,  which  was  finally 
chosen  for  the  Church  in  America.  He  drew  up 
and  offered  a  plan  of  government,  in  detail,  more 
conformable  to  his  own  views,  which  was  so  re- 
spectfully considered  by  the  synod,  that  it  was 
publicly  read  in  their  hearing.  He  was  seconded 
in  his  efforts  to  recommend  this  plan,  among  others, 
by  his  friend  and  neighbour,  the  Rev.  John  Miller, 
pastor  of  the  church  in  Dover,  Delaware,  and  the 

pleasure,  this  opportunity  of  paying'  a  small  tribute  of 
respect  to  the  memory  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wilson,  his  own 
friend,  and  his  father's  friend;  and  whom  lie  can  never 
recollect,  without  mingled  emotions  of  the  tcnderest  affec- 
tion, and  the  most  profound  veneration.  Ingenious,  learn- 
ed, pious,  patriotic,  and  benevolent,  in  an  eminent  degree, 
all  that  knew  him,  respected  him  ;  and  he  had  no  enemies 
but  the  enemies  of  truth  and  righteousness.  Though  every 
circumstance,  in  his  early  life,  conspired  to  place  him 
among  those  who  were  called  Old-side  men,  in  the  great 
controversy  which  divided  the  church  in  his  day ;  yet 
such  was  the  fervour  of  his  piety,  and  the  amiableness  of 
his  temper,  that  both  parties  loved  him  ;  and  he  was  taken 
by  the  hand,  by  his  New-side  brethren,  and  heard  by  their 
congregations,  with  as  much  pleasure  as  if  he  had  been 
nominally  witii  them.  An  ardent  lover  of  peace,  he  la- 
mented the  divisions  which  agitated  the  church  when  he 
came  into  the  ministry  ;  and  was  one  of  the  principal  in- 
struments of  bringing  about  the  L'nion  of  1758,  an  ac- 
count of  which  was  given  in  a  former  chapter.  Dr.  Wil- 
son  was  an  eminent  physician  as  well  as  divine.  He  was 
born  in  Chester  county,  Pennsylvania,  January  15,  1731; 
received  his  academical  education  under  the  direction  of 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Francis  Allison,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Alexander 
McDowell;  settled  as  the  jiastor  of  Lewes  and  Cool  Spring 
congregations,  in  Delaware,  in  1755;  received  the  degree 
of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  tiie  University  of  Pennsylvania, 
in  178G:  and  died  March  30,  1700,  uiiivcrbally  lamented. 


NEW    YORK.  I  §3 

father  of  the  writer  of  this  memoir.*  They  fail- 
ed, however,  of  procuring  the  adoption  of  tlioir 
system.  The  model  of  liie  Church  of  Scotland, 
though  not  servilely  copied,  was  with  great  justice, 
in  general,  preferred:  and  a  form  of  government 
and  discipline,  as  nearly  corresponding  with  that 
model,  as  the  difTerent  circumstances  of  the  two 
countries  rendered  expedient,  was  finally  estab- 
lished. 

On  the  21st  of  May,  1789,  the  first  General 
Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  under  the 
new  arrangement,  met  in  Philadelphia.  Dr.  Rodg- 
ers  had  the  honour  of  being  the  first  moderator  of 
that  body;  and  seldom  failed  of  being  sent  as  one 
of  the  delegates  to  represent  his  Presbytery  in  the 
General  Assembly,  as  long  as  he  had  sufficient 
health  and  strength  to  encounter  a  journey  to  the 
usual  place  of  its  meetings. 

While  these  events,  so  important,  and  so  fav- 
ourable to  the  general  interests  of  the  church, 
were  taking  place,  the  congregations  in  New  York 
were  destined  to  experience  new  agitations  and 
difliculties.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Wilson,  after  labour- 
ing in  a  collegiate  connexion  with  Dr.  Rodgers, 
for  nearly  three  years,  with  great  diligence  and 
faithfulness,  found  himself  aflfected  with  a  pulmo- 
nary complaint,  which  threatened  serious  conse- 

*  The  Rev.  John  Miller,  A.  M.  was  a  native  of  Boston, 
in  Massachuselt;',  where  ho  was  born  in  tiie  year  1721. 
After  receiving  a  regular  academical  and  theological  edu- 
cation, he  was  ordained  to  the  work  of  the  gospel  ministry, 
in  his  native  town,  in  1748;  and  tooii  the  jjastoral  charge 
of  the  united  congregations  of  Dover  and  Duck  Creek,  in 
Delaware,  toward  the  close  of  the  same  year.  He  con- 
tinued in  that  pastoral  charge,  diligent,  faitlilul,  and  be- 
loved, until  July,  1791,  when  he  died,  in  the  6t)th  year  of 
his  age,  and  the  44th  of  his  ministry. 


Jg4  NEW   YORK. 

quences.  Receiving,  about  tliis  time,  a  call  from 
tiie  Presbyterian  church  of  Charleston,  in  South 
Carolina,  where  there  was  reason  to  believe  that 
both  the  climate  and  the  service  required  of  him, 
would  be  more  favourable  to  his  health,  than  those 
of  New  York,  he  judged  it  to  be  his  duty  to  ac- 
cept of  the  call ;  of  which,  accordingly,  he  declared 
his  acceptance  on  the  22d  day  of  January,  1788. 
He  was  immediately  dismissed,  by  the  Presby- 
tery, from  his  pastoral  charge  in  New  York;  and 
in  a  iew  days  afterwards  left  the  city,  with  a  view 
to  proceed  to  Charleston,  sincerely  and  deservedly 
esteemed.* 

The  measures  taken  for  supplying  the  vacancy 
occasioned  by  the  removal  of  Mr.  Wilson,  gave 
rise  to  no  small  uneasiness  and  difficulty.  The 
congregations  soon  became  divided  into  two  par- 
ties. The  one  was  warmly  in  favour  of  giving  a 
call  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  James  iMuir,  who  had  been 
for  several  years  invested  with  a  pastoral  charge 
in  the  island  of  Bermuda,  and  had,  a  short  time 
before,  paid  a  visit  to  New  York.  The  oilier  was 
quite  as  warmly  in  favour  of  calling  Mr.  Jedidiah 
Morse,  then  a  candidate  for  the  gospel  ministry.! 
Both  of  these  gentlemen  preaclied  several  months 
on  probation ;  and  each  of  them  had  numerous  and 
zealous  friends.     The  contention  concerning  them 

*  ]Mr.  Wilson,  after  spending  several  years  usefully  and 
comfortably  in  Charleston,  returned  to  Scotland,  his  native 
country,  where  he  remained  a  year  or  two,  and  then  again 
came  to  America.  He  never  took  a  pastoral  charge,  how- 
ever, after  his  second  visit  to  this  country ;  but,  after 
struggling  with  ill  health,  for  a  long  time,  died  in  Virgi- 
nia, in  the  year  17!)1),  in  the  48th  year  of  his  age. 

+  Now  the  Rev.  Jedidiah  RIorse,  D.  D.  pastor  of  the 
church  in  Charlcstown,  Massachusetts,  whoso  high  cha- 
racter, and  useful  writings,  arc  well  known. 


NEW   YORK.  185 

ran  high  during  the  greater  part  of  a  year,  and 
threatened  very  serious  consequences.  But  Mr. 
Morse,  after  a  time,  declining  to  he  considered  as 
a  candidate  for  the  place,  and  retiring  from  the 
city;  and  Mr.  Muir,  soon  afterwards,  receiving 
and  accepting  a  call  from  the  city  of  Alexandria, 
in  Virginia,*  the  congregations  were  restored  to 
tolerable  quietness  and  harmony,  in  the  spring  of 
the  year  1789,  by  each  party  giving  up  its  fa- 
vourite. 

After  spending  a  number  of  months  in  the  most 
uncomfortable  strife,  the  congregations,  in  the 
summer  of  the  year  1789,  gave  a  call  to  the  Rev. 
Mr.  John  McKnight,t  pastor  of  the  church  in 
Marsh  Creek,  Pennsylvania,  and  a  member  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Carlisle.  It  being  deemed  of  great 
importance  that  this  call,  in  the  then  peculiar  state 
of  the  congregations,  should  be  successful,  Dr. 
Rodgers  was  prevailed  upon  to  be  its  bearer,  and 
to  prosecute  it  before  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle. 
His  mission  was  attended  with  success.  Mr. 
McKnight  accepted  the  call,  on  the  8th  day  of 
September,  1789,  and  was  installed  as  a  collegiate 
pastor  of  the  united  churches,  with  Dr.  Rodgers, 
on  the  2d  day  of  December  following.  Under  his 
ministrations  the  churches  soon  became  united  and 
harmonious;  and  their  prospects  of  spiritual  com- 
fort and  increase  again  brightened. 

As  soon  as   the   difficulties   occasioned  by  the- 

*  The  Rev.  Mr.  Muir,  afterwards  Doctor  of  Divinity,. 
for  many  years  resided  at  Alexandria,  with  honour  and 
usefulness.  His  various  publications  have  been  well  re- 
ceived. 

t  Mr.  McKnight,  soon  after  his  removal  to  New  York, 
received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity,  from  Yale 
College. 

16 


2gg  NEW   YORK. 

revolutionary   war   were,   in    some   degree,   sur- 
mounted, it  became  a  favourite  object  with  tiie  pas- 
tors and  other  officers  of  the  Presbyterian  churches 
in  New  York,  to  establish  a  regular  charity  school 
for  the    education   of  their   poor   children.     The 
legacy  of  Captain  Owen,  before  mentioned,  laid 
the    foundation   of  such   an   establishment.*      In 
1787,  a  subscription  was  opened  for  carrying  into 
effect   the   same  benevolent  design,    when   about 
one  thousand  two  liundred  and  fifty  dollars  were 
obtained.     In  1788,  Mrs.  EHzabelh  Thompson,  a 
pious  and  exemplary  member  of  the  church,  be- 
queathed  to  the  corporation,   near   nine  hundred 
dollars,   for  the  same   purpose.     These  fruits   of 
Christian  liberality  enabled  the  trustees  to  begin 
their  school.     This  was  accordingly  done  on  the 
first  day  of  May,  1789,  by  employing  a  master  to 
teach   their  poor  children,  and  hiring  a  suitable 
apartment  for  their  accommodation,  until  a  school- 
house  could  be  erected.     The  last  mentioned  ob- 
ject was  accomplished  in   1790.     In  that  year  the 
trustees  purchased  a  lot  in  Nassau-street,  between 
Liberty  and  Cedar  streets,  on  which  they  erected 
a  brick  building,  of  sufficient  extent  to  furnish  an 
ample  school-room,  and  accommodations  for  the 
family   of   the  instructor.      In    April,   1792,  Mr. 
James  Leslie,  a  school-master,  and  long  an  exem- 
plary member  of  the   church,  bequeathed  to  the 
trustees  the  sum  of  five  hundred  dollars,  to  be  add- 
ed to  the  school  fund.     'J'hese  legacies,  together 
with  annual  public  collections,  enabled  them  con- 
stantly to  maintain  a  school  of  fifty  poor  children 
for  a  number  of  years. 

*  Sec  page  119.  The  legacy  of  Captain  Owen,  though 
originally,  about  $750,  was  much  (limiiiishcci  by  llie  de- 
preciation of  the  paper  currency,  during  tlie  war. 


NEW    YORK.  Ig'7 

Doctor  McKnight's  health  being  impaired  early 
in  the  year  1792,  by  his  unwearied  and  arduous 
labours,  it  became  evident  that  he  was  no  longer 
able  to  preach  three  times  on  each  Sabbath,  as  he 
had  faithfully  done  from  the  lime  of  his  settlement. 
The  congregations,  earnestly  desirous  of  maintain- 
ing evening  service,  to  which  they  had  been  long 
accustomed,  determined  to  call  a  third  minister.  A 
joint  meeting  being  held  for  this  purpose,  on  the 
29ih  day  of  August,  in  the  year  last  mentioned,  a 
call  was  unanimously  voted  to  the  writer  of  this 
memoir,  at  that  time  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery 
of  Lewes,  of  which  his  father,  then  recently  de- 
ceased, had  been  a  member.  He  accepted  tiie  call 
November  20th,  1793;  arrived  at  New  York,  to 
enter  on  his  labours,  on  the  3d  day  of  January, 
1793  ;  and  was  ordained  to  tlie  work  of  ihe  gospel 
ministry,  and  installed  collegiate  pastor  with  Doc- 
tor Rodgers  and  Doctor  McKnight,  on  the  5th  day 
of  June  following. 

In  the  month  of  November,  1794,  the  College 
of  New  Jersey,  and  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 
the  United  States,  were  deprived  by  deatli  of  one 
of  their  distinguished  ornaments,  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Witherspoon.  The  trustees  of  the  college  imme- 
diately took  measures  for  paying  a  suitable  tribute 
of  respect  to  his  memory.  For  this  |)urpose  Dr. 
Rodgers  was  requested  to  prepare  and  deliver  a 
funeral  discourse.  He  accordingly  prepared,  and 
at  the  next  meeting  of  the  board,  on  the  Olh  of 
May  following,  delivered  a  sermon  on  Matthew 
XXV.  21,  which  was  soon  afterwards  printed,  under 
the  title  of  "  The  faiihfui  servant  rewarded  ;"  and 
which  was  subsequently  prefixed  to  Woodward's 
edition  of  Dr.  Wiiherspoon's  works.  This  ser- 
mon will  probably  be  pronounced  by  discerning 


2  §8  NEW   YORK. 

readers  the  most  respectable  publication,  in  a  lite- 
rary view,  that  the  author  ever  made. 

In  the  year  1796,  it  became  apparent  that  a  third 
church  was  much  wanted,  to  supply  more  particu- 
larly the  inhabitants  of  the  northeastern  part  of  the 
city,  who  could  not  be  accommodated  in  either  of 
the  other  churches.  When  tiiis  fact  began  to  en- 
gage the  general  attention  of  the  congregations, 
and  plans  to  be  formed  for  attaining  the  object, 
Henry  Rutgers,  Esq.,  a  gendeman  of  great  wealth 
and  liberality,  who  was  then  in  connexion  with  the 
Reformed  Dutch  Church,  with  his  accustomed  mu- 
nificence, made  a  deed  of  gift  to  the  trustees  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  church  of  an  ample  lot  of  ground 
at  the  corner  of  Rutgers  and  Henry  streets,  on 
which  to  erect  the  contemplated  edifice.  'J'he 
generous  donation  was  gratefully  accepted  ;  sub- 
scriptions were  immediately  commenced  for  de- 
fraying the  expenses  of  the  building;  and  early  in 
the  spring  of  the  year  1797,  Dr.  Rodgers  had  the 
pleasure  of  laying  the  corner-stone  of  a  third  Pres- 
byterian church  on  the  spot  just  mentioned.  The 
work  was  carried  on  with  expedition;  and  on  the 
13lh  day  of  May,  1798,  it  was  opened  for  public 
worship.  In  this  introductory  service.  Dr.  Rod- 
gers presided,  and  delivered  a  sermon  on  tlie  occa- 
sion from  Uaggai  ii.  7:  "  And  I  will  shake  all  na- 
tions ;  and  the  desire  of  all  nations  shall  come ; 
and  I  will  fill  this  house  with  glory,  sailh  the  Lord 
of  Hosts."  The  greater  part  of  the  pews  were 
immediately  taken,  and  the  church  became  filled 
with  worshippers  quite  as  soon  as  could  have  been 
rationally  expected. 

In  the  autumn  of  the  year  1799,  the  Doctor, 
finding  the  infirmities  of  age  sensibly  to  increase, 
thought  it  his  duly  to  relinquish  the  Thursday  eve- 


NEW   YORK.  ISO 

ning  lecture,  which,  with  unwearied  diligence  and 
great  usefulness,  he  had  maintained  for  more  than 
thirty  years.  He  communicated  this  intention  to 
his  colleagues,  and  suggested  to  them  the  proprie- 
ty of  their  undertaking  and  continuing  this  part  of 
his  labour.  They  readily  assented  to  tiie  propo- 
sal;  and  the  service  was  continued  by  them,  in  a 
form  somewhat  different  from  that  in  which  he  had 
conducted  it,  as  long  as  the  churches  remained 
united. 

The  ministrations  requisite  for  carrying  on  the 
stated  service  of  three  churches  becoming  every 
day,  from  the  natural  increase  of  the  city,  more 
extensive,  multiplied,  and  laborious,  it  was  judged 
expedient  lo  call  a  fourth  minister.  Accordingly, 
after  the  usual  preliminary  steps,  the  congregations 
were  convened,  in  joint  meeting,  on  the  5th  day  of 
August,  1805,  when  they  unanimously  made  choice 
of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Philip  Milledoler,  then  pastor  of 
the  Third  Presbyterian  church  in  theciiy  of  Phila- 
delphia, to  be  one  of  their  collegiate  pastors;  with 
a  view,  however,  to  his  taking  the  church  in  Rut- 
gers street  under  his  more  particular  care,  and 
being  considered,  if  a  separation  of  the  churches 
should  ever  take  place,  as  its  sole  pastor.  The 
call  for  Dr.  Milledoler  was  regularly  prosecuted 
before  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia;  and  he  hav- 
ing accepted  it,  was  installed  in  ihe  church  in  Rut- 
gers street  on  the  19th  of  November  following. 

This  measure  proved  most  auspicious  to  the 
spiritual  interests  of  that  part  of  the  city.  Few 
instances  have  occurred  of  a  more  usefrd  ministry 
than  that  of  Dr.  Milledoler  in  this  church.  The 
work  of  the  Lord  prospered  abundantly  in  his 
hands.  The  number,  both  of  stated  worshippers 
and  of  communicants,  rapidly  increased;  and  from 


190  NEW    YORK. 

being  small  and  feeble  when  he  entered  on  the 
pastoral  charge,  it  became,  in  less  than  seven 
years,  one  of  the  largest  Presbyterian  churches 
in  the  United  States. 

Hitherto  the  three  churches  in  Wall  street,  Beek- 
man  street,  and  Rutgers  street,  were  united.  There 
was  one  board  of  Trustees,  and  one  bench  of  El- 
ders, over  the  whole.  So  that,  though  worship- 
ping in  three  houses,  they  were,  properly  speak- 
ing, but  one  church.  And  each  of  the  ministers, 
(excepting  Dr.  Milledoler,  the  peculiarity  of  whose 
call  placed  him  in  different  circumstances  from  his 
colleagues,)  was  equally  connected  with  all  the 
congregations.  The  inconveniences  attending  this 
arrangement,  both  to  the  ministers  and  the  people, 
were  many  and  serious.  These  incoveniences  had 
been  long  seen  and  deplored.  But  the  difficulty 
of  removing  the  cause  of  them,  seemed  almost  in- 
surmountable. A  large  number  of  the  people  were 
so  much  attached  to  the  union  of  the  congregations, 
to  which  they  had  been  long  accustomed,  that  there 
appeared  little  hope  of  being  able  to  overcome  their 
prejudices  on  this  subject.  The  formation  of  the 
Cedar  street  church,  in  the  autumn  of  1808,  as  a 
separate  pastoral  charge;  the  calling  of  their  mi- 
nister; and  the  entire  and  most  happy  success 
which  attended  their  undertaking,  drew  the  atten- 
tion of  numbers  to  the  subject,  who  had  never 
thought  of  it  seriously  before.  The  result  was, 
that  the  opinions  of  many  in  favour  of  a  union  of 
churches,  were  altered ;  and  tiiat  measures  were 
taken,  in  the  winter  and  spring  of  the  year  1809, 
for  dividing  the  united  churches  into  three  separate 
pastoral  ciiarges.  These  measures  issued  in  the 
attainment  of  the  object,  in  the  month  of  April,  of 
that  year;  when  a  majority  of  the  congregations, 


NEW  YORK.  191 

at  meetings  botli  jointly  and  separately  held,  voted 
for  the  proposed  separation,  which  the  Presbytery 
sanctioned  and  ratified,  at  a  meeting  in  Elizabeth- 
town,  on  the  26ih  day  of  (hat  month.  In  the  ar- 
rangements which  attended  this  separation,  Dr. 
Rodgers  continued  his  pastoral  relation  both  to  the 
Wall  street  and  Brick  churches ;  Dr.  McKnight, 
with  the  leave  of  the  Presbytery,  resigned  his 
charge,  and  removed  in  a  few  months  afterwards, 
to  Pennsylvania  ;*  and  the  writer  of  this  memoir 
■was  liberated  from  his  pastoral  relation  to  the  Brick 
church,  and  became  collegiate  pastor  of  the  church 
in  Wall  street  only.  Tiie  arrangement  which  had 
been  stipulated  in  Dr.  Milledoler's  call,  took  place, 
of  course,  with  respect  to  him. 

Though  this  separation  was  not  effected  with- 
out considerable  opposition  and  difficulty,  it  was 
attended,  on  the  whole,  with  much  less  of  both 
than  might  have  been  expected.  The  agitations 
which  it  produced  have  gradually  subsided  ;  and 
now,  the  experience  of  many  years,  it  is  believed, 
has  so  far  disclosed  the  advantages  of  separate  pas- 
toral charges,  as  to  leave  few  persons  under  the  in- 
fluence of  hostility,  or  even  of  doubt,  toward  the 
measure  adopted.  No  man,  unquestionably,  who 
witnessed  the  scene,  would  ever  again  lift  iiis  hand 
in  favour  of  associating  several  congregations  under 
the  same  pastors  ! 

In  the  beginning  of  the  winter  of  1809,  and 
1810,  the  congregation  worshipping  in  Wall  street, 
determined  to  take  down  their  house  of  worship, 
which  had  become  too  old  and  tottering  to  be  any 

*  Dr.  McKnight,  after  leavinnr  New  York,  resided  in 
Chambcrsburg,  in  Pennsylvania,  for  a  number  of  years. 
He  was,  undoubtedly,  one  of  the  ablest  and  soundest  di- 
vines in  the  Presbyterian  church. 


192  ^^^^   YORK. 

longer  occupied  with  safety,  and  to  erect  a  new 
one  on  the  same  scite.  The  requisite  preliminary 
measures  having  been  taken,  the  corner-stone  of 
the  new  building  was  laid  on  the  21st  of  March, 
1810.  On  this  interesting  occasion,  Dr.  Rodgers 
attended,  bending  under  the  weight  of  years.  It 
had  been  the  earnest  wish  of  many,  that  in  com- 
mencing the  rebuilding  of  the  original  church,  to 
which  he  had  first  borne  the  pastoral  relation,  and 
which  was  surrounded  with  the  sepulchres  of  those 
who  had  called  and  welcomed  him  to  the  city,  he 
should  lay  the  first  stone.  His  infirmities,  how- 
ever, rendered  this  impossible.  It  was  laid  by 
the  writer  of  the  present  volume;  his  venerable 
colleague  being  only  able  to  favour  the  solemnity 
with  his  presence  and  his  benediction. 

While  the  edifice  thus  commenced  was  erecting, 
or  rather  more  than  three  months  before  the  erection 
of  it  was  begun,  the  congregation  worshipped  in 
the  French  Episcopal  church,  Du  St.  Esprit,  in 
Pine  street,  which,  on  application,  was  politely 
and  liberally  granted  by  the  vestry  for  their  use. 
That  place  of  worship  was  occupied  by  the  Pres- 
byterian congregation  from  the  1st  day  of  Decem- 
ber, 1809,  till  the  11th  day  of  August,  1811,  on 
the  latter  of  which  days,  the  new  edifice  in  Wall 
street,  was  first  opened  for  the  worship  of  God.* 
But  the  venerable  servant  of  Christ,  who  had  wit- 
nessed the  commencement  of  the  building,  and 
who  had  taken  a  deep  interest  in  its  progress,  was 
no  longer  a  partaker  in  the  services  of  an  earthly 
sanctuary.     Before  the  arrival  of  that  day,  he  had 

*  The  new  cliurch  in  Wull  street  was  opened,  by  tlie 
writer  of  this  memoir,  with  a  sermon  from  2  Chron. 
vi.  41. 


NEW   YORK.  193 

been  translated  to  the  services  and  tlie  joys  of  a 
better  sanctuary  on  high. 

A  few  weeks  after  the  commencement  of  the 
new  building  in  Wall  street,  Dr.  Rodgers  had  the 
pleasure  of  being  present  at  the  laying  of  the  cor- 
ner-stone of  a  sixth*  Presbyterian  church,  in  Spring 
street,  in  the  city  of  New  York.  The  short  pray- 
er which  he  made,  on  this  occasion,  in  the  open 
air,  was,  so  far  as  is  recollected,  the  last  public 
service  that  he  ever  performed.  He  was  never 
able,  after  that  day,  to  perform  any  official  duty, 
excepting  those,  wiiicli  admitted  of  being  attended 
in  his  own  house. 

The  infirmities  of  Dr.  Rodgers  led  the  members 
of  the  Brick  Church,  of  which,  after  the  separa- 
tion, he  was  the  sole  pastor,  to  look  out  for  further 
ministerial  aid.  Accordingly  in  the  month  of  May, 
1810,  they  gave  a  unanimous  call  to  Mr.  Gardiner 
Spring,!  a  licentiate  from  Massachusetts,  who  had 
preached  to  them  for  a  few  weeks.  Mr.  Spring 
accepted  their  call,  and  was  ordained  to  the  work 
of  the  gospel  ministry,  and  installed  collegiate  pas- 
tor of  that  church,  with  Dr.  Rodgers,  on  the  8lh 
day  of  August  following.  The  Doctor  attended 
with  his  brethren,  on  this  interesting  occasion,  nnd 
united,  for  the  last  time,  in  the  laying  on  of  the 
hands  of  the  Presbytery ;  but  was  not  able  to  take 
any  other  part  in  the  services  of  the  day.  During 
the  few  months  afterward  that  he  lived,  he  took  his 
young  colleague  by  the  hand  with  paternal  solici- 

*  The  church  erected  by  the  Irish  Presbyterian  eonpre- 
gation,  under  tlie  pastoral  care  of  t!ic  Rev.  Mr.  McNeicc 
and  which  had  been  opened  in  the  summer  of  the  preced- 
ing year,  was  tlie  filth. 

t  Now  the  Rev.  Doctor  Spring,  of  whose  reputation  as 
a  pastor  and  writer,  it  is  unnecessary  to  speak. 


1  94  ^'®  LAST  ILLNESS  AND  DEATH. 

tilde  and  affection ;  discovered  great  anxiety  to 
promote  his  usefulness ;  and  rejoiced  in  his  talents 
and  success. 


i 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


His  last  Illness  and  Death. 


The  decline  of  Dr.  Rodgers  was  remarkably  gra- 
dual. In  the  month  of  December,  1803,  he  in- 
formed the  church  session,  that  "  on  account  of  his 
age,  and  growing  intirmities,  he  was  no  longer 
able  to  preach  more  than  once  on  the  Lord's  day  ;" 
and  requested  that  such  measures  might  be  taken 
to  obtain  additional  supplies  for  the  pulpit,  as  his 
faikire  to  perform  full  service  rendered  necessary. 
On  which  it  was  resolved  unanimously:  "That 
the  session  entertain  a  high  and  grateful  sense  of 
the  long  and  faithful  services  of  Dr.  Rodgers ; 
and  though  they  deeply  regret  that  his  infirmities 
will  deprive  the  churches  of  a  portion  of  his  usual 
labours ;  yet  they  are  persuaded  that  he  ought  to 
be  excused  from  such  a  portion  of  his  ministrations 
as  he  may  not  find  himself  able,  without  difficulty, 
to  perform ;  and  ihat  measures  ought  to  be  adopted, 
as  soon  as  convenient,  to  procure  further  supplies 
for  the  pulpits." 

In  addition  to  this  decline  of  bodily  vigour, 
which  rendered  a  partial  retirement  from  public 
service  necessary,  his  mind  began  to  discover 
marks  of  decay.  His  memory,  as  usual,  was  the 
first  of  his  mental  powers  which  manifested  a  fai- 
lure.    About  the  time  when  he  withdrew  from  the 


HIS  LAST  ILLNESS  AND  DEATH.  J  95 

second  service  on  the  Sabbath,  he  commenced  the 
use  of  notes  in  preaching.  Through  his  wliole 
ministerial  life,  prior  to  this  period,  he  had  been  in 
the  liabit  of  delivering  his  sermons  in  a  degree 
mcmoriler,  tliat  is,  he  in  general  wrote  with  care, 
the  substance  of  what  he  delivered,  and  afterwards 
read  it  over  with  sufficient  frequency  to  impress 
upon  his  memory  tlie  whole  of  the  matter,  and,  to 
a  certain  extent,  though  not  servilely,  the  lan- 
guage, which  he  had  committed  to  paper.  This 
was  his  constant  habit  anterior  to  the  year  1803. 
In  that  year,  when  he  was  in  the  seventy-seventh 
year  of  liis  age,  perceiving  that  his  memory  was 
neither  so  prompt,  nor  so  faithful,  as  he  had  been 
wont  to  find  it,  he  began  to  take  his  written  dis- 
courses into  the  pulpit,  and  to  lay  them  before  him 
in  the  delivery.  In  this  habit  he  continued  as  long 
as  he  was  able  to  preach.  Still,  however,  he  was 
always  in  a  degree  animated,  and  sometimes  so 
much  so  as  to  remind  his  more  aged  hearers  of  the 
ardent  and  impassioned  manner  of  his  early  life. 

In  the  summer  of  1809,  such  was  the  feebleness 
of  his  body,  that  it  became  difficult,  not  to  say  al- 
most impossible,  for  him  to  ascend  the  pulpit,  and, 
even  when  he  had  reached  it,  the  failure  of  his 
memory,  especially  at  some  times,  was  so  great, 
that  he  was  unable  to  go  through  the  service  with- 
out giving  more  or  less  pain,  both  to  himself  and  his 
hearers.  In  September,  of  that  year,  lie  preached 
his  last  sermon.  Nothing  remarkable  attended 
this  service.  Neither  he  nor  the  congregation 
considered  it,  at  the  time,  as  likely  to  be  the  last; 
but  so  it  proved.  A  variety  of  circumstances  con- 
curred with  the  gradual  decline  of  his  strength,  to 
prevent  his  ever  entering  the  pulpit  again. 

On  the  first  Sabbath  of  the  following  December, 


J  95  HIS  LAST  ILLNESS  AND  DEATH. 

the  Lord's  Supper  was  administered  in  the  French 
Church,  in  which  the  congregation  then  wor- 
shipped. Occasions  of  this  kind  never  failed  to 
excite  in  Dr.  Rodgers  peculiar  tenderness  of  feel- 
ing, and  to  draw  from  him  his  most  affectionate 
and  interesting  addresses.  On  this  occasion,  he 
forgot,  for  a  moment,  his  infirmities,  and  attempted 
to  serve  a  table.  But  his  recollection  so  entirely 
failed  him,  in  the  midst  of  the  service,  that  it  was 
with  the  utmost  difficulty,  and  not  without  impor- 
tant omissions,  that  he  got  through  it.  Seldom 
has  a  more  affecting  scene  been  exhibited.  The 
tears  of  hundreds  witnessed  their  mingled  emotions 
of  respect  and  sympathy,  toward  a  beloved  pastor, 
whom  they  saw  sinking  into  the  grave. 

In  the  year  1810,  nothing  remarkable  occurred, 
concerning  the  subject  of  this  memoir,  except- 
ing his  attendance,  as  related  in  the  last  chapter, 
at  the  laying  of  the  corner-stones  of  the  Wall-street, 
and  Spring-street  churches.  His  daily  decline, 
both  in  bodily  and  mental  strength,  in  the  course 
of  this  year,  was  perceptible  and  distressing.  It 
grew  more  and  more  difficult  for  him  to  Avalk 
abroad,  until  toward  the  close  of  the  year,  when 
his  feebleness  became  so  extreme,  that  he  no  longer 
attempted  to  leave  his  house.  And  early  in  Janu- 
ary of  the  following  year,  at  the  solicitation  of  his 
family,  he  was  prevailed  upon  to  retire  to  his  cham- 
ber, which  lie  never  again  quilted,  excepting  to 
walk  for  a  few  moments  into  an  adjoining  apart- 
ment, till  his  death. 

For  about  six  weeks  before  his  death,  he  was 
confined  almost  entirely  to  his  bed.  During  this 
period,  his  memory  was  so  far  impaired,  that  he 
often  coidd  not  recollect  the  names,  and  sometimes 
appeared  scarcely  to  recognise  the  persons,  of  his 


HIS  LAST  ILLNESS  AND  DEATH.  \  97 

most  intimate  friends.  On  one  occasion  he  did 
not  appear  distinctly  to  know  even  his  own  son, 
when  lie  made  one  of  his  daily  visits.  But  it  is  a 
fact,  that  even  when  his  recollection  was  thus  far 
weakened,  with  respect  to  the  nearest  and  dearest 
temporal  objects,  it  was  nearly  as  prompt  and 
faithful  as  ever  with  respect  to  spiritual  and  eternal 
things.  He  never  appeared,  for  a  moment,  to  for- 
get his  God  and  Saviour.*  In  the  most  reduced 
state  of  his  mental  powers,  he  caused  his  family  to 
be  convened  in  his  chamber,  morning  and  evening, 
and  prayed  with  them  in  a  tender,  connected,  and 
edifying  manner.  And  when  he  could  no  longer 
recognise  the  name  or  the  countenance  of  an  inti- 
mate friend,  whom  he  almost  daily  saw,  he  could 
speak  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ;  quote  passages  of 
Scripture,  which  relate  to  his  personal  glory,  and 
his  gracious  benefits;  pour  out  the  fulness  of  a 
heart  breathing  after  the  holy  joys  of  his  presence; 
and  recommend  him  to  those  with  whom  he  con- 
versed; not  indeed  so  fluently  or  uninterruptedly 
as  in  his  ordinary  health,  but  in  a  manner  truly 
gratifying  to  those  around  him. 

Facts  of  this  kind  are  neither  new  nor  uncom- 

*  It  is  pleasing  to  reflect,  that  this  case  is  by  no  means 
a  singular  one.  An  eminently  pious  minister,  in  a  neigh- 
bouring state,  who  had  passed  along  life  of  more  than  or- 
dinary devotedness  to  the  cause  of  his  Divine  Master,  had 
so  far  lost  iiis  memory,  a  short  time  before  his  death,  as 
not  to  know  his  own  children,  or  even  to  recollect  that  he 
had  children.  A  Christian  friend  asked  him,  on  a  parti- 
cular occasion,  whether  he  knew  such  a  child,  or  such  a 
neighbour  ?  his  reply,  in  each  case,  was,  "  No,  I  did  not 
know  that  I  had  such  a  child,  or  such  a  neighbour."  His 
friend  then  said,  "  Do  you  know  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ?" 
He  replied,  immediately,  and  with  strong  emotion,  "Oh, 
yes;  I  know  Him;  he  is  my  best  friend  I" 


198  HIS  LAST  ILLNESS  AND  DEATH. 

mon.  An  eminent  ph_vsician  of  our  own  country, 
has  said,  "  I  never  met  with  a  single  instance  in 
which  the  moral  or  religious  faculties  were  im- 
paired in  old  people.  In  the  course  of  my  inqui- 
ries I  heard  of  a  man  of  one  hundied  and  one  years 
of  age,  who  declared  that  he  had  forgotten  every 
thing  he  had  ever  known,  except  his  God."  The 
same  writer,  in  another  place,  tells  us,  *'  I  once 
knew  a  man  who  discovered  no  one  mark  of  rea- 
son, who  possessed  the  moral  sense  or  faculty  in 
so  high  a  degree,  that  he  spent  his  whole  life  in 
acts  of  benevolence.  He  had  no  idea  of  time, 
but  what  was  suggested  to  him  by  the  returns  of 
the  stated  periods  for  public  worship,  in  which  he 
appeared  to  take  great  delight.  He  spent  several 
hours  of  every  day  in  devotion."*  The  influence 
of  constant  habit  in  preserving  an  aptitude  and 
readiness,  as  well  as  capacity,  for  this  class  of  ex- 
ercises, as  suggested  by  this  writer,  is,  no  doubt, 
great.  The  exercises  of  piety  are  among  the  few 
which  aged  people,  who  have  any  taste  for  them, 
never  intermit;  but  rather  abound  in,  more  and 
more,  as  they  advance  in  life.  There  is,  however, 
another  consideration,  on  which  still  more  stress 
ought  to  be  laid,  in  accounting  for  the  fact  in  ques- 
tion. The  commencement,  the  maintenance,  and 
the  progress  of  real  piety,  in  any  heart,  are  the 
result  of  Divine  influence.  We  no  where  have  a 
promise,  that  the  intellectual  powers  of  the  pious 
shall  be  preserved  unimpaired,  until  their  transla- 
tion to  a  better  world;  but  we  have  a  promise,  that 
"  He  who  has  begun  a  good  work,  will  perform 
it  until  the  day  of  Jesus  Christ."    It  would,  doubt- 

*  Rush's  Medical  Inquiries  and  Observations,  vol.  i.  p. 
442;  and  vol.  ii.  p.  12,  13,  second  edition. 


HIS  LAST  ILLNESS  AND  DEATH.  199 

less,  be  as  easy  for  Omnipotence  to  continue  a 
capacity  for  one  class  of  exercises  as  for  another; 
but  as  his  promise  has  secured  this  blessing  in  one 
case,  and  not  in  another;  and  as  the  consolations 
which  result  from  moral  and  religious  sources  are 
much  more  desirable  and  important,  in  the  even- 
ing of  life,  than  those  which  are  connected  with 
intellectual  activity,  it  appears  in  every  respect 
worthy  of  infinite  wisdom  and  goodness,  to  ascribe 
the  acknowledged  fact  of  which  we  are  speaking, 
to  the  benign  and  gracious  agency  of  Him,  who 
has  said,  to  every  child  of  his  grace,  "  I  will  never 
leave  thee,  nor  forsake  thee."  But  to  return  to 
the  venerable  subject  of  this  memoir. 

In  the  evening  preceding  his  death,  he  prayed 
with  his  family  for  the  last  time.  After  a  few  short 
petitions  of  the  usual  kind  for  their  temporal  and 
spiritual  welfare,  he  prayed  fervently  and  afl'ec- 
tionately  for  the  congregations  which  had  been  so 
long  under  his  pastoral  care.  Having  dwelt  in  a 
number  of  appropriate  and  connected  sentences  on 
this  topic,  he  passed  on  to  other  subjects  of  peti- 
tion ;  but  immediately  returned  to  the  "dear  peo- 
ple of  his  charge,"  and,  with  increasing  fervour  of 
manner,  prayed  for  them  a  second  time.  Nay, 
after  a  few  intervening  sentences  relating  to  other 
objects,  as  if  unable  to  take  leave  of  the  subject, 
he  introduced  a  third  time,  with  as  much  afTection 
and  copiousness  as  before,  his  "  beloved  people  ;" 
and  with  earnest  entreaties  that  the  Holy  Spirit 
might  be  poured  out  upon  them,  and  that  they 
might  be  more  and  more  united  in  affection,  and 
built  up  in  holiness,  he  closed  the  last  social  prayer 
that  he  ever  made. 

The  next  morning,  after  being  raised  up  and 
placed  in  liis  easy  chair  for  a  few  moments,  while 


200  HIS  LAST  ILLNESS  AND  DEATH. 

his  bed  was  made,  he  requested,  on  lying  down 
again,  that  the  family  might  be  convened,  as  usual, 
for  the  purpose  of  praying  with  them.  When  it 
was  suggested  that  he  was  too  much  exhausted, 
and  that  he  had  better  wait  a  short  time,  until  he 
should  recover  a  little  after  his  recent  exertion,  he 
acquiesced,  but  soon  fell  into  a  gentle  slumber,  and 
did  not  mention  the  subject  afterwards. 

Towards  three  o'clock,  in  the  afternoon  of  that 
day,  he  became  in  a  small  degree  restless,  and 
manifested  symptoms  of  approaching  dissolution. 
His  colleague  was  immediately  sent  for,  and  in  a 
few  minutes  entered  the  room.  He  found  him  un- 
able to  speak,  but  had  the  pleasure  of  perceiving 
that  he  knew  him,  and  by  signs,  as  well  as  by 
his  countenance,  that  he  enjoyed  his  wonted  hope 
and  consolation,  and  that  he  wished  him  to  pray 
with  him.  A  short  prayer  was  accordingly  offered 
np  ;  and  the  venerable  servant  of  Jesus  Christ, 
without  again  recovering  his  speech,  was,  about 
four  o'clock,  P.  M.,  on  the  7th  day  of  May,  1811, 
in  the  84th  year  of  his  age,  and  in  the  sixty-third 
year  of  his  ministry,  quietly  released  from  his  mor- 
tal tabernacle,  and  translated  to  his  eternal  rest. 

The  officers  of  the  churches  to  whicli  the  de- 
ceased had  sustained  the  pastoral  relation,  on  being 
informed  of  his  death,  immediately  convened  ;  and 
having  communicated  to  his  widow  and  family 
their  wishes  that  the  care  and  expense  of  the  fune- 
ral might  be  left  with  them,  proceeded  to  take  order 
on  the  subject.  The  funeral  was  attended  on 
Thursday,  the  9lh  of  May.  Scarcely  ever  was 
there  seen  in  New  York  so  large  a  concourse  of 
real  mourners.  The  corpse  was  taken  into  the 
Brick  church,  while  an  impressive  funeral  ora- 
tion was   delivered   by  Dr.   Milledoler,  and  was 


HIS   GENERAL  CHARACTER.  201 

afterwards  deposited  in  a  vault  in  the  yard  of 
tliat  church.  The  pulpits  of  all  the  Presbyterian 
churches  in  the  city  were  hung  in  mourning  on  the 
occasion  ;  and  on  the  succeeding  Sabbath,  in  most, 
if  not  all  of  those  churches,  funeral  sermons  were 
delivered — a  specimen  of  which  will  be  subjoined 
to  this  volume. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

His  general  Character. 

Before  the  writer  undertakes  to  sketch  the  gene- 
ral character  of  his  venerable  colleague,  to  the 
commemoration  of  which  he  has  devoted  the  pre- 
sent volume,  he  begs  leave  to  ofTer  the  testimony 
of  some  others  on  the  same  subject.  By  insert- 
ing the  communications  which  follow,  he  has  no 
doubt  he  shall  afford  pleasure  to  every  reader. 

Happening  to  be  in  Philadelphia  a  few  days 
after  the  death  of  Dr.  Rodgers,  he  addressed  tlie 
following  letter  to  that  enlightened  physician  and 
philanthropist,  who,  more  than  any  other  individ- 
al,  deserves  to  be  styled  the  Father  of  Medical 
Science  in  America,  and  who  was  not  ashamed  to 
be  called  a  Christian  : 

"  Philadelphia,  May  25,  1811. 
"  Dear  Sir, 

"  I  have  resolved  to  present  to  the  public  some 
account  of  the  life  and  character  of  my  late  col- 
league, the  Rev,  Dr.  Rodgers. 

"  Having  frequently  heard  you  speak  of  an  ac- 
17 


202  ^^^   GENERAL   CHARACTER. 

qiiaintance,  which,  from  early  life,  you  enjoyed 
with  tliat  venerable  nian,andlell  a  number  of  anec- 
dotes which  did  him  honour,  will  you  allow  me 
to  soHcit  from  you  a  communication,  containing 
such  facts  and  remarks  as  may  occur  to  your  recol- 
lection, and  appear  proper  to  be  introduced  into 
the  proposed  account  ?  It  is  my  wish  to  record 
your  testimony  with  that  of  some  other  distinguish- 
ed characters,  in  an  attempt  to  do  honour  to  the 
memory  of  a  minister  of  Jesus,  who  was  emi- 
nently useful  while  he  lived,  and  whose  labours 
and  example  will  not,  I  trust,  cease  to  be  useful 
for  many  years  to  come. 

"  I  am,  dear  sir,  with  high  respect, 

"  Yourobliged  friend  and  humble  servant, 
Samuel  Miller." 

"Dr.  Rush." 

In  consequence  of  this  request,  the  following 
communication  was,  in  a  short  time  afterwards, 
received. 

^''Philadelphia,  June  7th,  1811. 
"Dear  Sir, 

"  I  regret  that  I  shall  not  be  able  to  fidfil  your 
wishes  in  such  a  manner,  as  to  render  my  small 
tribute  of  respect  and  affection  to  our  departed 
friend,  worthy  of  a  place  in  your  account  of  his 
life  and  character. 

"  My  first  knowledge  of  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Rod- 
gers  was  at  the  Rev.  Dr.  Finley's  school,  in  Cecil 
county,  in  Maryland,  in  the  year  1756.  He  was 
a  member  of  a  Presbytery  which  met  statedly  in 
Dr.  Finley's  church,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the 
school.  During  the  silting  of  the  Presbytery,  he, 
together   with   several   other   clergymen,   always 


HIS   GENERAL   CHARACTER.  203 

lodged  at  Dr.  Finley's  house.  He  likewise  assist- 
ed the  Doctor  occasionally  in  the  exercises  which 
visually  accompany  the  commemoration  of  the 
Lord's  Supper  in  the  Presbyterian  church,  at 
which  time  he  was  always  a  guest  in  the  Doctor's 
family.  In  all  these  ecclesiastical  visits,  he  en- 
deared himself  to  the  liille  boys  that  boarded  in 
the  Doctor's  house,  by  finding  out  and  calling  them 
by  their  names ;  by  conversing  with  them  upon 
the  subjects  of  their  studies;  and,  when  called 
upon  to  pray  in  the  family,  by  offering  up  the 
most  fervent  supplications  to  the  throne  of  grace, 
for  their  temporal  and  eternal  welfare.  His  ser- 
mons were  likewise  very  acceptable  to  us,  because 
they  were  more  accommodated  to  our  capacities, 
and  ''elivered  in  a  more  impressive  and  afTectionate 
manin,;  ihan  those  of  most  of  the  ministers  that 
occasionally  filled  our  preceptor's  pulpit.  The 
respect  and  attachment  I  thus  early  conceived  for 
our  excellent  friend,  grew  with  my  years,  and  was 
much  strengthened  by  the  connexion  which  took 
place  between  his  son  and  me,  the  present  worthy 
Dr.  John  R.  B.  Rodgers,  from  his  studying  medi- 
cine under  my  direction.  In  all  the  Doctor's  visits 
to  Philadelphia,  he  never  failed  to  dine,  or  pass  an 
evening,  in  my  family,  in  which  he  was  always  a 
welcome  and  agreeable  guest. 

"  I  have  great  pleasure  in  recollecting,  not  only 
his  pleasant  and  instructive  conversations,  but 
many  agreeable  anecdotes  I  have  heard  of  his 
piety,  prudence,  and  good  sense.  I  shall  mention 
two  or  three  of  the  latter.  Some  years  ago  I  was 
sent  for  to  visit  a  Mrs.  Kirkpatrick,  of  this  city, 
who  told  me  she  had  spent  the  early  part  of  her 
life  in  the  congregation  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Roan,  ot 
Neshaminy,  at  whose  school  Dr.  Rodgers  receiv- 


204  ^^^   GENERAL   CHARACTER. 

ed  his  academical  learning;  and  that  she  had  often 
contrived  on  a  Sunday,  when  she  went  to  church, 
to  walk  a  few  feet  behind  him,  when  he  was  but 
fourteen  years  of  age,  on  purpose  to  hear  his  pious 
and  sensible  conversation  with  his  school-mates. 

"  A  member  of  the  Doctor's  congregation  once 
complained  to  him,  that  his  prayers  were  too  me- 
thodical, and  that  they  appeared  to  be  studied. 
'  You  are  right,  sir,'  said  the  Doctor,  'my  prayers 
are  studied.  Would  you  have  me  offer  God  that 
which  costs  me  nothing?' 

"In  one  of  his  last  visits  to  Philadelphia,  he 
informed  me,  that  when  he  resided  in  Newcastle 
county,  in  the  then  three  lower  counties,  as  they 
were  called,  upon  the  Delaware,  he  offended  a  part 
of  his  congregation,  by  voting  at  a  disputed  elec- 
tion for  a  sheriff,  in  consequence  of  which,  he  said, 
he  had  never  voted  at  a  general  election  afterwards. 
In  this  act  of  self-denial,  he  discovered  a  practical 
knowledge  of  the  scale  of  duties;  for  how  feeble 
is  the  obligation  in  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  to  pro- 
mote the  supposed  prosperity  of  his  country  by  a 
solitary  vote,  compared  with  his  obligation  to  pre- 
serve a  commanding  and  undivided  influence  over 
his  whole  congregation,  in  order  more  effectually 
to  direct  their  attention  to  subjects  of  an  imperish- 
able nature  ! 

•'  Of  his  Christian  and  ministerial  character,  I 
need  say  nothing  to  you,  who  liave  been  so  long, 
and  so  happily,  united  with  him  in  parochial  la- 
bours. To  both  he  added,  in  an  uncommon  de- 
gree, the  manners  of  a  fine  gentleman.  Such  was 
his  intuitive  knowledge  and  strict  attention  to  time 
and  place,  in  his  intercourse  with  the  world,  that 
he  not  only  pleased,  but  I  never  heard  of  his 
having,  even  from  carelessness,  or  inadvertencyi 


HIS  GENERAL  CHARACTER.  205 

offended  a  human  being  in  the  course  of  his  life. 
Indeed,  his  manners  seemed  to  be  in  strict  unison 
with  his  pure  and  exemplary  morals.  Consider- 
ing how  little  he  was  indebted  to  instruction,  and 
fashionable  company,  in  the  early  part  of  his  life, 
for  the  singular  polish,  and  charm  of  his  manners, 
and  how  many  men,  with  all  the  advantages  of 
high  birth,  and  constant  as  well  as  early  inter- 
course with  elegant  society,  are  deficient  in  the 
air,  and  ease,  and  all  the  proprieties  of  behaviour, 
it  would  seem  that  a  real  gentleman  is  as  much  the 
child  of  nature,  as  a  poet  or  a  painter. 

"  The  following  extract  from  a  letter  written  to 
me  upon  my  marriage,  will  show  the  happy  mix- 
ture of  piety  with  the  friendship  with  which  the 
Doctor  honoured  me. 

'  New  York,  January  30,  1776. 
♦  My  dear  Sir, 

'  With  great  sincerity  1  congratulate  you  upon 
your  late  agreeable  marriage;  nor  is  there  any 
happiness,  temporal  or  spiritual,  that  I  do  not 
most  cordially  wish  you  and  your  amiable  consort. 
May  the  best  of  Heaven's  blessings  attend  yon 
both,  through  all  the  various  scenes  of  future  life! 
May  they  meet  you  in  rich  variety  and  plenty  in 
every  change,  and  hand  you  both,  after  a  life  of 
usefulness  and  comfort,  into  the  mansions  of  eter- 
nal rest!'  ;i 

"  In  the  summer  of  1777,  the  Doctor's  son, 
while  my  pupil,  was  attacked  with  an  obstinate 
and  dangerous  fever,  which  he  caught  in  attending 
a  crowded  military  hospital  in  Philadelphia.  Du- 
ring his  illness,  I  received  two  letters  from  the 
Doctor,  extracts  from  which  will  show  in  a  very 


206  ^^^   GENERAL   CHARACTER. 

striking  manner,  the  union  of  paternal  solicitude 
with  Christian  resignation. 

'  Kingston,  June  3d,  1777. 
'  My  dear  Sir, 

'  I  wrote  you  a  few  lines  this  morning,  by  an 
express  to  the  delegates  of  this  state  in  Congress; 
but  he  is  not  to  return  immediately,  and  such  is 
my  solicitude  to  hear  from  my  dear  Johnny,  that 
the  bearer  goes  on  purpose  with  this  letter,  and 
another  to  Mr.  Smith,  to  bring  me  news  from  him. 
Is  he  yet  among  the  living,  oris  he  numbered  with 
the  dead?  tender  and  solemn  questions,  indeed, 
respecting  an  only  son,  and  a  favourite  child  !  But 
it  is  the  Lord,  and  it  becomes  me  to  submit.  Pray 
dispatch  the  bearer  as  speedily  as  possible.' 

^Kingston,  June  11th,  1777. 
'  My  dear  Sir, 

'  With  inexpressible  solicitude  I  am  waiting  the 
return  of  the  express  1  dispatched  to  Philadelphia, 
last  week,  to  hear  the  fate  of  my  dear  son.  I  ex- 
pect him  to  day.  O !  that  he  may  bring  me 
favourable  accounts;  but  the  will  of  the  Lord  be 
done!  I  hope  the  express  will  bring  me  a  line 
from  you.  I  beg  you  will  be  kind  enough  to  give 
me  as  particular  a  state  of  his  case,  as  your  time 
•will  admit,  by  the  first  post,  whether  dead  or 
alive.' 

"I  shall  only  add  an  extract  of  a  letter  I  re- 
ceived from  the  Doctor,  after  he  heard  of  the  reco- 
very of  his  son. 

^Kingston,  June  16,  1777. 
'My  dear  Sir, 

•Accept,  I  entreat  you,  of  my  most  cordial  and 


HIS  GENERAL  CHARACTER.  207 

affectionate  gratitude,  for  your  care  of  my  dear  son, 
in  his  late  dangerous  illness.  I  shall  never  forget 
it.  And  pray  thank  his  kind  landlady,  and  his 
fellow-sludenls,  most  affectionately  in  my  name, 
for  their  kindness  to  him.  O  that  1  had  it  in  my 
power  to  reward  them  all !  My  God,  however,  I 
trust  will.  I  most  ardently  pray  he  may  !  Give 
my  love  to  Johnny.  My  heart  is  too  full  to  write 
to  him,  by  this  post;  and  he,  perhaps,  is  too  weak 
to  read  a  letter  from  me.     Tell  him  we  are  well  V 

"  With  great  respect,  I  am,  dear  Sir, 
"  Your  sincere  friend, 

Benjamin  Rush." 
"Rev.  Dr.  Miller." 

A  request  similar  to  that  which  is  above  re- 
corded, as  addressed  to  Dr.  Rush,  was  also  ad- 
dressed to  the  Rev.  Doctor  Livingston,  the  vene- 
rable President  of  Queen's  College,  New  Bruns- 
wick, and  Professor  of  Theology  in  the  Reformed 
Dutch  Church,  in  the  United  States.  The  letter 
froin  which  the  following  extracts  are  taken,  was 
intended  as  an  apology  for  not  complying  with  this 
request;  and  of  course,  was  not  designed  for  pub- 
lication. But  it  is  presumed  that  every  reader  will 
concur  in  opinion  with  the  compiler,  who  was  not 
able  to  reconcile  it  either  with  his  judgment  or  his 
feelings,  to  conceal  from  the  public  eye  such  para- 
graphs as  these. 

"  With  affectionate  regard  and  tender  emotions 
I  attended  to  your  letter.  I  entered  fully  into  your 
meaning,  and  felt  happy  in  the  hope  that  it  might 
be  in  my  power,  in  some  measure,  to  meet  your 
wishes.  1  owe  to  you  a  compliance  with  every 
request.  I  owe  to  the  memory  of  your  venerable 
colleague,  to  assist  in  rendering  the  history  of  Jiis 


208  ^^  GENERAL  CHARACTEE. 

exemplary  life  acceptable  and  useful.  And  I  owe 
to  the  cause  of  the  Divine  Redeemer  to  suggest,  if 
possible,  such  reflections  and  observations  as  ought 
to  be  blended  with  the  memoirs  of  a  man,  wlio 
served  his  Lord  so  long  with  diligence  and  success. 
Under  the  impression  of  all  these  motives,  which 
upon  reading  your  acceptable  favour,  were  indulged 
without  restraint,  I  immediately  viewed  the  sub- 
ject, with  an  ardent  desire  to  recollect  and  arrange 
something  which  might  answer  your  expectations. 
But  I  find  myself  disappointed.  The  most  emi- 
nent characters,  and  perhaps  the  most  profitable  in 
their  stations,  are,  for  the  greater  part,  so  uniform 
in  their  course,  and  exhibit  so  few  changes,  that 
there  is  scarcely  a  prominent  point  to  be  disco- 
vered, on  which  the  biographer  can  rest,  or  an 
insulated  spot  to  which  particular  remarks  can  sui- 
tably apply. 

"  A  river  which  for  ever  flows  in  one  direction, 
and  is  always  of  the  same  depth,  without  a  cata- 
ract, cascade,  or  angle,  is  justly  considered  the 
most  profitable  stream,  and  may  be  eulogized  as  a 
source  of  wealth  in  commerce;  as  a  treasure  to  a 
nation;  but  it  can  never  employ  the  detached 
touches  of  the  pencil ;  it  absolutely  evades  all  par- 
tial descriptions. 

''I  placed  my  old  friend  full  before  me,  and 
viewed  him  distinctly  as  a  man,  as  a  Christian,  as 
a  divine,  and  as  a  preacher.  In  every  article  he 
appeared  conspicuous,  amiable,  and  excellent;  but 
in  all  of  them  he  was  for  ever  the  same.  One 
general  encomium  comprises  the  whole,  and  in- 
cludes all  that  can  be  said.  Few  of  the  human 
famdy  have  passed  through  a  long  life  so  blame- 
less and  unimpeached,  so  undeserving  of  reproof, 
and  shielded  even  from  slander.     Few  of  the  fol- 


HtS  GENERAL  CHARACTER.         209 

lowers  of  Immanuel  have  lived  more  liabitiially  by 
faith,  or  taken  up  their  cross  and  followed  their 
Master  with  more  cheerful  and  signal  obedience. 
Among  divines  there  may  be  those  whose  oppor- 
tunities for  obtaining  information,  whose  extensive 
reading,  and  perhaps  stronger  powers  of  mind, 
have  rendered  them  superior  to  him  in  science; 
but  there  are  not  many  who  have  surpassed  him 
in  clear  and  decisive  views  of  the  doctrines  of 
grace,  or  an  ardent  and  persevering  attachment  to 
the  fundamental  truths  of  the  gospel.  In  the  pulpit 
there  are  prodigies  of  eloquence,  men  who  soar 
above  the  ordinary  standard;  whose  elocution, 
energy,  and  pleasing  address,  astonish  and  capti- 
vate their  audience;  but  these  of  necessity  must 
be  few,  and  are  not  always  the  most  powerful  or 
successful  in  converting  sinners,  or  edifying  be- 
lievers. Our  departed  friend  was  never  classed 
among  celebrated  orators.  An  impediment  in  pro- 
nouncing some  words  prevented  him  frequently 
from  indulging  in  a  full  and  uninterrupted  flow  of 
speech;  but  he  was  always  in  earnest;  he  be- 
lieved what  he  spoke;  and  with  a  feeling  heart, 
susceptible  of  tender  affections,  he  was,  especially 
when  in  the  prime  of  life,  an  impressive,  accept- 
able, and  excellent  preacher." 

"As  to  anecdotes,  of  which,  in  a  series  of  mu- 
tual intercourse  for  nearly  half  a  century,  there 
must  have  occurred  many  that  would  be  worth 
preserving,  I  cannot  at  present  call  any  correctly 
to  remembrance,  or  at  least  sufficiently  recollect 
them,  in  their  striking  points,  to  attempt  a  detail." 

In  compliance  with  request,  the  Rev.  Mr.  For- 
rest, a  respectable  minister  of  the  Associate  lie- 
formed  Church,  made  the  following  communica- 
tion, which  is  inserted  with  pleasure,  as  another 
18 


210  ^^^   GENERAL   CHARACTES. 

valuable  attestation,  in  concurrence  with  the  pre- 
ceding. 

"  A  few  years  ago,  I  related  to  Dr.  Rodgers  an 
anecdote  of  a  Scots  clergyman,  who,  while  preach- 
ing from  these  words,  Heb.  xi.  32,  "  And  what 
shall  I  more  say  ?  for  the  time  would  fail  me  to 
tellof  Gideon,"  &c.  observed,  "  My  brethren,  here 
are  some  very  rough-spun  saints;  really,  if  the 
Spirit  of  God  had  not  decided  this  matter,  it  would 
have  been  hard  work  to  have  admitted  them  among 
the  number.  But,  my  brethren,  this  teaches  us 
that,  if  we  get  to  heaven,  we  will  see  many  folks 
there  that  we  did  not  expect."  Dr.  Rodgers  ob- 
served, "  Yes,  my  friend,  I  expect  to  see  in  hea- 
ven among  other  wonders,  three  very  great  ones ; 
some  there  whom  I  did  not  expect  to  have  seen 
there  ;  others  not  there,  whom  I  had  great  expec- 
tations of  seeing  there  ;  but  the  greatest  wonder  of 
all,  will  be,  to  see  myself  there,  the  chief  of  sin- 
ners, pardoned  and  sanctified  through  the  grace  of 
God  !" 

"  I  have  often  admired  the  talents  displayed  by 
Dr.  Rodgers,  while  he  presided  in  the  board  of 
directors  of  the  Missionary  Society.  Having,  in 
my  younger  days,  been  often  led,  by  curiosity,  to 
attend  the  meetings  of  the  General  Assembly  of 
the  Church  of  Scotland,  and  the  Synods  of  both 
branches  of  the  Secession,  I  may  be  allowed  to 
express  an  opinion  concerning  this  subject.  Never 
have  I,  in  any  of  these  courts,  seen  a  moderator 
who  could  preserve  decorum,  interest  the  members 
of  court  in  the  business  before  them,  and  command 
the  respect  and  affection  of  members,  equal  in  any 
degree  to  Dr.  Rodgers." 

"  1  am  not  in  communion  with  that  church  to 
which  Dr.  Rodgers  belonged,  and  never  had  an 


HIS   GENERAL   CHARACTER.  211 

opportunity  of  hearing  him  preach  more  tlian  once. 
My  acquaintance  with  him  commenced  in  1802, 
when  he  was  in  the  decline  of  life;  but  it  was  my 
happiness  to  enjoy  his  private  conversation  for  a 
few  years;  and  I  always  considered  him  as  a  sin- 
gular blessing  to  the  American  church." 

Having  presented  these  testimonies,  from  dif- 
ferent and  impartial  witnesses,  an  attempt  will 
now  be  made,  to  portray  those  remarkable  fea- 
tures in  the  character  of  this  eminent  servant  of 
Jesus  Christ,  which  so  highly  distinguished  him, 
and  which  contributed  so  largely,  under  God,  both 
to  the  acceptance  and  the  utility  of  his  labours. 
For  it  is  a  fact  not  to  be  disguised,  that  the  repu- 
tation, the  influence,  and  the  usefulness  of  Dr. 
Rodgers,  considered  jointly,  were  greater  than 
usually  fall  to  the  lot  of  one,  who  had  no  higher 
claims  than  he,  to  strong  and  original  powers  of 
mind,  and  to  profound  learning.  Shall  we  say, 
then,  that  his  reputation  was  undeserved ;  or  that  it 
rested  upon  an  unsubstantial  basis  ?  By  no  means. 
It  was  merited.  It  had  a  solid  foundation.  And  it 
may  not  be  altogether  without  benefit  to  inquire, 
why  it  was,  that  this  venerable  minister  of  the 
gospel,  was  more  known,  more  honoured,  more 
influential,  both  in  the  chinch  and  in  civil  society, 
and  more  extensively  useful,  than  many  other 
clergymen,  who  ranked  higlier  on  the  scale  of  na- 
tive genius,  and  were  more  conspicuous  for  their 
literary  acquirements?  This  question  will  be  an- 
swered, by  exhibiting  and  illustrating  the  most 
remarkable  features  of  his  character,  under  a  series 
of  heads. 

I.  And  here,  the  first  place  shall  be  assigned  to 
his  ardent  and  uniform  piety.  This  was  the 
grand  ornament,  which  appeared  in  all  that  he 


212         HIS  GENERAL  CHARACTER. 

said  or  diJ;  and  which  shed  a  lustre  on  his  cha- 
racter, in  whatever  point  of  light  it  was  contem- 
plated. Common  sense  dictates  to  ever}'  man, 
that  the  minister  of  religion  ought  to  be  truly  reli- 
gious; that  he  who  makes  it  the  business  of  his 
life  to  explain  the  doctrines,  enforce  the  precepts, 
and  recommend  the  spirit,  of  Christ,  ought  him- 
self, in  some  good  measure,  to  exemplify  what  he 
preaches,  in  his  own  temper  and  conduct.  Ac- 
cordingly, as  the  evident  want  of  piety  is  one  of 
the  last  deficiencies,  that  can  or  ought  to  be  par- 
doned in  a  clergyman;  so  the  habitual  display  of 
warm,  practical,  consistent  piety,  in  the  sacred 
profession,  is  of  more  importance  in  every  point 
of  view  to  ministerial  reputation  and  usefulness, 
than  is  generally  imagined.  The  pious  love  it; 
formal  professors  approve  it;  and  even  the  most 
determined  votaries  of  profligacy,  or  of  infidelity, 
secretly  revere  it,  and,  like  Herod,  pay  it  a  trem- 
bling homage. 

Such  piety,  even  in  clergymen,  is  much  more 
rare  than  is  commonly  believed.  It  will  be  ob- 
served, the  assertion  is,  that  such  piety  is  more 
rare.  None  will  suppose  that  a  general  reflection 
is  intended  on  the  profession  of  which  the  writer 
is  a  member;  and  still  less  that  he  imagines  him- 
self entitled  to  take  the  place  of  censor  among  his 
brethren.  But  fidelity  to  the  Master's  cause  is 
paramount  to  all  other  obligations.  "  The  piety 
of  some,"  as  a  late  excellent  biographer  remarks, 
"  is  official  rather  than  personal.  It  consists  in 
certain  exercises  and  appearances,  which  are  re- 
signed with  tlie  occasions  that  require  them :  and 
in  company  they  are  the  merry  companions,  the 
temporizing  associates;  in  the  house,  the  cruel 
husbands,    the   negligent  fathers,   the   tyrannical 


HIS   GENERAL   CHARACTER.  213 

masters."*  The  piety  of  a  much  larger  class  of 
ministers,  though  real,  sincere,  and  in  the  main, 
exemplary,  is  still  mixed  with  so  many  levities, 
and  littlenesses,  and  admits  so  many  of  the  phrases, 
the  habits,  and  the  calculations  of  worldly  men, 
into  their  language  and  daily  deportment,  that  the 
lustre,  both  of  the  Chri^itian  and  the  ambassador 
of  Christ,  cannot  fail  of  being  obscured,  and  even 
tarnished. 

But  we  have  reason  to  rejoice,  that  the  piety  of 
a  goodly  number  is  of  a  higher  order.  Their  de- 
portment in  private,  corresponds  with  their  lan- 
guage in  public.  Their  preaching  is,  in  some 
good  measure,  exemplified  in  their  lives.  They 
recommend  religion  as  much  on  the  other  six  days 
of  the  week,  as  on  the  Sabbath.  Their  piety  is 
of  that  uniform,  unaffected,  impressive  character, 
which,  while  it  assumes  nothing,  is  seen  wherever 
they  go;  which  combines  evangelical  seriousness 
with  simplicity,  benevolence,  and  cheerfulness; 
which  exhibits  as  much  of  the  meekness  and  hu- 
mility of  the  Christian,  as  of  his  heavenly  minded- 
ness;  and  which  continually  shows  itself  to  origi- 
nate rather  from  the  heart  than  from  the  office. 
Such  a  character,  speaking  after  the  manner  of 
men,  is  irresistible.  It  is  loved  b}''  the  good,  and 
revered  by  all.  And  while  the  frivolous  willing, 
and  the  profane  scorner,  may  occasionally  sneer 
at  what  they  call  its  "  strictness,"  and  its  "  puri- 
tanism,"  they  find  a  testimony  in  their  own  con- 
sciences in  its  favour.  They  secretly  honour  it, 
as  much  more  conformed  to  the  Spirit,  and  the 
example  of  Christ,  than  the  character  of  the  cleri- 
cal bon  vivant,  who   has   no   other  mark  of  his 

*  Jaj's  Life  of  Winter,  p.  230,  New  York  edition. 


214         HIS  GENERAL  CHARACTER. 

sacred  office  than  a  black  dress ;  and  on  whom, 
while  they  court  his  company  in  the  hour  of  fes- 
tivity and  mirth,  they  bestow  none  of  their  real 
confidence  or  esteem. 

This  was  one  of  the  great  charms  of  Dr.  Rod- 
gers'  character.  The  fervour  and  uniformity  of 
his  piety  seldom  failed  to  impress  all  who  ap- 
proached him.  It  not  only  appeared  conspicuous 
in  the  pulpit;  dictating  his  choice  of  subjects,  his 
mode  of  treating  them,  and  his  affectionate  earnest- 
ness of  manner  ;  but  it  attended  him  wherever  he 
went,  and  manifested  itself  in  whatever  he  did. 
In  the  house  of  mourning  it  shone  with  distin- 
guished lustre.  Nor  was  this  all.  He  probably 
never  was  known  to  enter  a  human  dwelling,  for 
the  purpose  of  paying  an  ordinary  visit,  without 
saying  something,  before  he  left  it,  to  recommend 
the  Saviour  and  his  service.  Seldom  did  he  sit 
down  at  the  convivial  table,  without  dropping  at 
least  a  few  sentences  adapted  to  promote  the  spi- 
ritual benefit  of  those  around  him.  The  transient 
visitor;  the  momentary  interview  in  the  street;  the 
hasty  call  of  business;  the  ride  of  pleasure;  the 
inquiry  respecting  the  health  of  his  friends ;  the 
answer  to  inquiries  respecting  his  own  health ; 
the  mode  of  telling  and  of  hearing  news  ;  the  vale- 
dictory benediction — could  all  bear  witness  to  the 
habitual  devotion  and  spirituality  of  his  mind,  and 
his  constant  desire  to  be  active  in  his  Master's  ser- 
vice. In  all  tiie  domestic  relations  of  life,  piety 
pervaded  and  regulated  his  conduct ;  controlling  a 
temper  naturally  hasty  and  irascible,  and  prompt- 
ing to  the  affectionate  courtesies  of  Christian  be- 
nevolence. He  seemed  never,  for  a  moment,  to 
forget  that  he  was  a  servant  of  Jesus  Christ;  a 
minister  of  Him  who  went  about  doing  good  to 


HIS   GENERAL   CHARACTER.  215 

the  souls  and  bodies  of  men  ;  and  wliose  meat  and 
drink  it  was  to  do  the  will  of  his  Father,  and  linisli 
his  work.  The  writer  well  remembers  a  circum- 
stance, which,  though  small  in  itself,  was  consi- 
dered, by  an  impartial  observer,  as  not  a  little  sig- 
nificant. A  young  clergyman,  who  had  paid  a 
short  visit  to  the  city,  and  who  had  enjoyed  two 
or  three  pleasant  interviews  with  Dr.  Kodgers,  a 
few  years  before  his  death,  at  the  close  of  the  last 
interview,  rose  and  oflered  him  his  hand  for  the 
purpose  of  bidding  him  farewell.  The  Doctor 
took  it,  and  squeezing  it  affectionately,  with  a 
very  few  simple  words,  expressive  of  pious  hope, 
and  tender  benediction,  dismissed  him.  The  cler- 
gyman, on  retiring,  inquired,  whether  what  he 
had  just  witnessed  was  the  Doctor's  common  man- 
ner of  taking  leave  of  his  friends?  adding,  that  he 
had  seldom  seen  any  thing  so  much  like  the  pious 
and  primitive  style  of  an  apostle  before.  There 
have  been  better  days  of  the  church,  when  such 
things  were  not  rare.  Would  to  God  they  were 
less  so  now ! 

It  scarcely  need  be  added,  because  every  one 
acquainted  with  the  nature  of  vital  piety  will  take 
for  granted,  that  the  Doctor  was  habitually  atten- 
tive to  tliose  means  which  God  is  wont  to  bless 
for  maintaining  the  power  of  religion  in  the  soul. 
He  had  a  deep  impression  of  the  efficacy  of  prayer; 
and  he  abounded  in  this  duty,  as  well  as  in  the 
other  duties  of  the  closet.  Besides  the  stated  and 
ordinary  exercises  of  devotion,  he  set  apart,  in 
every  year,  a  number  of  days  of  fasting  and  spe- 
cial prayer.  On  these  occasions,  as  was  observed 
in  a  preceding  chapter,  he  was  accustomed,  as  a 
means  of  more  deeply  impressing  his  own  mind, 
to  commit  to  writiuir  some  of  his  reflections  and 


21(5  HIS   GENERAL   CHARACTER. 

prayers,  and  afterwards  to  review  them,  as  a  record 
of  his  former  exercises,  and  as  a  pledge  of  his  sub- 
sequent tidelity. 

II.  Another  quality  in  Dr.  Rodgers,  which,  next 
to  his  piety,  contributed  to  his  high  reputation, 
was  his  prudence.  By  prudence  here  is  meant, 
not  that  spirit  of  cold  and  carnal  calculation,  which 
the  world  is  apt  to  call  by  this  respectable  name, 
but  which  the  apostle  styles  "  conferring  with  flesh 
and  blood,"  and  which,  perhaps,  can  be  expressed 
by  no  single  word  more  appropriate  than  that  of 
cunning'  Prudence,  in  the  Scriptural  sense  of 
the  term,  means  practical  wisdom.  The  prudent 
man,  in  the  estimation  of  Solomon,  is  one  who 
"  looketh  well  to  his  goings;  who  openelh  his 
mouth  with  wisdom  ;  who  foreseeth  the  evil,  and 
hideth  himself.  The  wise  in  heart  shall  be  called 
prudent."*  Without  this  qualification,  piety,  tal- 
ents, learning,  eloquence,  may  be,  and  have  not 
unfrequently  been  found  to  be,  worse  than  useless. 
It  is  so  important  to  a  good  minister,  that  our 
blessed  Lord  made  a  pointed  reference  to  it  a  part 
of  the  very  brief  exhortation  which  he  addressed 
to  the  first  ministers  whom  he  sent  forth.!  And 
perhaps  a  venerable  clergyman  in  a  neighbouring 
state,  did  not  go  too  far,  when  he  said,  "  I  would 
make  a  deficiency  in  prudence,  the  ground  of  quite 
as  serious  and  insurmountable  objection  against 
laying  hands  on  a  candidate  for  the  ministry,  as  I 
would  a  deficiency  in  piety  or  knowledge." 

Dr.  Rodgers  was,  remarkably,  and  character- 
istically, a  prudent  man.  Few  men  were  more 
careful  to  look  well  to  their  goings  than  he.  Few 
men  were  more  wary  in  foreseeing  circumstances 

*  Proverbs  xiv.  15  ;  xvi.  21;  xxii.  3.         t  Matt.  x.  26. 


HIS   GENERAL   CHARACTER.  217 

likely  to  produce  embarrassment  or  (lifliculty,  and 
in  avoiding  them.  Few  men  were  more  cautious 
of  giving  unnecessary  offence,  that  the  ministry 
might  not  be  blamed  ;  or  more  watchful  with  res- 
pect to  all  those  modes  of  exhibiting  truth,  or  of 
performing  duty,  which  are  calculated  to  conciliate 
the  differently  constituted  minds  of  men.  His  pru- 
dence was  daily  seen — in  denying  himself,  and 
the  members  of  his  family,  those  things  which, 
though  innocent  in  themselves,  might  have  made 
<  an  unfavourable  impression,  even  on  a  single  mind  ; 
in  the  regular  and  economical  management  of  his 
temporal  affairs;  in  avoiding  those  connexions  and 
associations,  by  which  his  lime  might  have  been 
injuriously  consumed,  or  his  attentions  painfully 
entangled;  in  parrying,  with  a  mixture  of  dignity 
and  gentleness,  every  attack,  in  mixed  companies, 
which  might  have  led  to  controversy,  especially 
religious  controversy,  which  he  thought  seldom 
failed  of  proving  both  unpleasant  and  mischievous  ; 
in  dealing  gently  with  the  prejudices  and  the  pas- 
sions of  men  ;  in  being  swift  to  hear,  and  slow  to 
speak;  in  treating  character  with  delicacy,  espe- 
cially the  character  of  the  absent;  in  taking  care  to 
hold  in  awe,  and  to  prevent,  rather  than  be  under 
the  necessity  of  reproving,  impertinence,  profane- 
ness,  and  noisy  mirth;  in  turning  to  the  best  ac- 
count the  amount  of  knowledge  that  he  possessed, 
and  forbearing  to  talk  on  subjects  with  which  he 
was  imperfectly  or  but  little  acquainted  ;  in  guard- 
ing against  that  propensity  to  incessant  jesting,  in 
promiscuous  company,  which  lowers  the  character 
of  so  many  respectable  clergymen  ;  in  careful  at- 
tention to  the  character  of  the  anecdotes  which  he 
related  in  social  circles;  in  keeping  at  a  distance, 
without  offending,  the  over-curious,  the  indelicate, 


218         HIS  GENERAL  CHARACTER. 

and  the  intruding;  in  always  preferring,  where 
there  could  not  be  unanimity  of  opinion,  that  course 
which  tended  to  peace  and  accommodation  ;  in  talc- 
ing care  to  select  favourable  seasons  and  methods 
of  administering  reproof;  and,  in  short,  in  con- 
stantly endeavouring  to  avoid  as  much  evil,  and 
accomplish  as  much  good,  witli  as  little  oflence  to 
those  around  him,  and  as  much  to  their  acceptance, 
as  possible.  Hence  he  was  able  to  do  a  thousand 
things  without  exciting  the  least  resentment,  which 
many  others  could  not  have  accomplished  without » 
encountering  the  most  determined  opposition  and 
animosity.  And  lience  he  rarely  found  himself  in 
those  perplexing  and  painful  situations,  to  which 
the  indiscreet  and  unwary  are  so  frequently  re- 
duced, to  the  interruption  of  their  own  peace,  and 
to  the  discredit  of  religion. 

Some  of  the  friends  of  Dr.  Rodgers,  indeed, 
sometimes  supposed  that  he  carried  his  prudence 
to  an  extreme;  that  his  caution  sometimes  de- 
generated into  timidity  ;  and  that  his  fear  of  giving 
offence,  not  unfrequently  led  him  to  fall  in  with 
the  opinions  and  the  measures  of  others,  where  his 
own  would  have  been  evidently  preferable.  To  as- 
sert that  he  was  perfectly  free  from  this  fault;  or 
that  any  man  remarkable  for  his  prudence,  was 
ever  perfectly  free  from  it,  would  be  venturing,  per- 
haps, too  far.  But  scarcely  any  two  individuals 
would,  probably,  in  all  cases,  agree  as  to  the  proper 
place  and  limits  of  the  exercise  of  prudence.  In 
the  estimation  of  some  ardent  spirits,  all  caution  is 
timidity  ;  all  accommodation,  trimming;  and  every 
thing  called  prudence,  niere  cold  and  calculating 
servility.  'I'his  was  not  the  opinion  of  Dr.  Rodg- 
ers. Next  to  the  general  principle  of  vital  piety, 
prudence  was  his  favourite  grace  :  and  it  must  bo 


HIS  GENERAL  CHARACTER.        219 

acknowledged,  that  he  exercised  it  with  no  ordi- 
nary success. 

III.  A  third  quality  for  which  this  venerable 
man  was  remarkable,  and  which,  no  doubt,  contri- 
buted largely  to  his  high  reputation,  was  the  uni- 
form, persevering;,  and  indefatigable  character  of 
his  ministerial  labours.  Some  men  are  not  ca- 
pable of  steady  and  long  continued  application  to 
the  same  pursuits.  They  grow  weary  of  the  re- 
gular progress  of  things  in  their  ordinary  course  ; 
and  can  only  be  interested  by  new  plans  and  under- 
takings, with  which  they  become  dissatisfied  in 
their  turn,  and  exchange  them  for  others.  Few 
things  are  more  apt  to  interfere  with  the  attainment 
of  great  excellence,  in  any  profession,  and  espe- 
cially in  the  clerical  profession,  than  this  weakness. 
It  frequently  places  real  genius  and  fervent  piety 
in  a  much  lower  station,  in  public  opinion,  and 
especially  in  public  usefulness,  than  is  held  by 
decidedly  inferior  gifts,  with  a  capacity  for  patient 
and  steady  exertion.  In  fact,  this  capacity,  though, 
like  common  sense,  it  is  too  apt  to  be  considered 
as  an  humble  qualification,  and  to  be  denied  an 
honourable  name;  is  one  of  the  most  important 
talents  that  can  well  be  mentioned,  in  a  character 
destined  to  enjoy  a  high  and  solid  reputation,  and 
to  be  extensively  useful  to  mankind. 

Dr.  Rodgers  possessed  and  exercised  this  talent 
in  a  remarkable  degree.  In  preaching,  in  cate- 
chising, in  attending  on  the  sick  and  dying,  in  all 
the  arduous  labours  of  discipline  and  government, 
and  in  visiting  from  house  to  house,  he  went  on 
with  unceasing  constancy,  year  after  year,  from 
the  beginning  to  the  end  of  his  ministry.  He  not 
only  abounded  in  ministerial  labours  ;  but  he  la- 
boured systematically,  uniformly,  and  with  unwea- 


220  ^^^   GENERAL   CHARACTER. 

ried  patience.  Difficulties  did  not  usually  appal 
him.  Delays  did  not  discourage  him.  If  he  were 
totally  disappointed  in  the  result  of  his  exertions 
in  one  case,  he  did  not  hastily  conclude,  that  all 
subsequent  endeavours  in  similar  cases  would  be 
useless.  Nay,  if  he  failed  of  attaining  his  wishes, 
ninety  and  nine  times,  he  did  not  shrink  from  the 
hundredth  attempt.  Those  who  found  him  busily 
engaged  in  pursuing  a  certain  regular  and  judicious 
course,  at  one  period  ;  would  be  sure  to  find  him, 
after  a  series  of  years,  pursuing,  with  steady  and 
undeviating  steps,  the  same  course.  In  short,  as 
his  learned  and  excellent  friend,  Dr.  Livingston, 
observes,  he  was  literally,  "  for  ever  the  same." 
Or  we  may  say  of  him,  in  nearly  the  same  lan- 
guage which  an  admirable  evangelical  biographer, 
now  living,  applies  to  his  pious  and  laborious  hero, 
"  Here  was  a  man,  for  seventy  years,  unchangea- 
ble in  all  the  varieties  of  life ;  by  the  grace  of  God, 
holding  on  his  way,  without  drawing  back,  or 
turning  aside,  or  standing  still,  or  seeming  to  come 
short;  what  the  Scripture  calls  a  perfect  and  an 
upright  man,  one  that  feareth  God,  and  escheweth 
evil."*  No  wonder  that  a  man  of  this  character, 
enjoyed  in  a  very  high  degree  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  all  who  knew  him.  No  wonder  that 
the  churches  beheld  him,  through  his  long  and 
active  life,  with  growing  reverence ;  and  that  his 
brethren  regarded  him  as  a  kind  of  clerical  pattern. 
Such  characters  may  be  less  talked  about  than 
some  others;  they  may  not  see  the  painter's  or 
the  sculptor's  art  employed  to  perpetuate  the  record 
of  their  particular  achievements ;  but  they  have 
been,  in  all  ages,  the  chief  benefactors  of  mankind. 

*  Jay's  Life  of  Winter,  p.  231. 


HIS   GENERAL   CHARACTER.  221 

They  have  been  the  means  of  performinff,  in  all 
nations,  the  greater  part  of  the  solid  j^ood  that  has 
been  done.  And,  while  prodigies  of  genius  have 
soared  and  fallen:  while  intellectual  and  moral 
comets  have  astonished  and  disappeared ;  they  have 
held  on  their  steady  course,  from  day  to  day,  and 
from  year  to  year,  enlightening,  warming,  and 
blessing  the  world. 

IV.  A  fourth  particular  which  contributed  to  the 
high  station  of  Dr.  Rodgers,  in  public  opinion,  and 
especially  in  the  confidence  of  the  pious  j)art  of  the 
community,  was  the  character  of  his  preaching. 
The  two  qualities  most  remarkable  in  his  preach- 
ing, were  piety  and  animation.  His  sermons 
were  always  rich  in  evangelical  truth;  and  they 
were  generally  delivered  with  a  solemnity  and 
earnestness,  which  indicated  a  deep  impression  on 
his  own  heart  of  the  importance  of  what  he  uttered. 
And  hence,  though  he  was  never  remarkable  for 
that  variety,  either  in  the  choice,  or  the  illustration 
of  his  subjects,  which  some  would  have  preferred; 
and  though  he  never  gave  himself  the  trouble  to 
attain  that  polish  and  elegance  of  style,  to  which 
many  bend  a  large  share  of  attention  ;  still,  in  the 
days  of  his  vigour,  he  was  one  of  the  most  popu- 
lar as  well  as  useful  preachers  in  the  American 
Church. 

It  was  said  that  his  sermons  were  rich  in  evan- 
gelical truth.  The  subjects  which  he  always 
treated  in  the  pulpit,  were  those  peculiar  and  pre- 
cious doctrines  of  the  gospel,  which  universal  ex- 
perience proves  to  be  most  acceptable  and  edifying 
to  the  pious,  and  most  impressive  on  the  mass  of 
hearers.  Whoever  went  to  hoar  him,  at  any  time, 
would  be  sure  to  find  him  dwelling  chiefly  on  one 
or  another  of  the  following  themes;  the  federal 


222  ^^^   GENERAL   CHARACTER. 

character  of  Adam,  as  the  covenant  head  of  his 
seed;  the  imputation  of  his  sin,  when  he  fell,  to 
all  his  posterity;  the  lost  and  ruined  state  of  man 
by  nature ;  the  doctrine  of  total  depravity ;  the 
doctrine  of  sovereign  election  to  eternal  life,  through 
sanctification  of  the  Spirit,  unto  obedience;  the 
true  and  proper  Divinity  of  Jesus  Christ;  the  Di- 
vine existence  in  a  trinity  of  persons ;  the  vicari- 
ous sacrifice  and  atonement  of  the  Saviour ;  the 
doctrine  of  justification  by  his  imputed  righteous- 
ness alone ;  the  nature  and  necessity  of  regenera- 
tion, by  the  Holy  Spirit;  the  necessity  of  a  vital 
union  to  Jesus  Christ,  by  faith,  in  order  to  our 
partaking  of  the  benefits  of  his  redemption ;  the 
distinguishing  character  of  those  who  stand  in  this 
relation  to  the  Saviour,  together  with  their  privi- 
leges and  duties ;  the  efficacy  of  prayer ;  the  na- 
ture and  properties  of  faith,  repentance,  hope,  and 
charity;  the  perseverance  and  final  glorification  of 
the  saints;  and  the  endless  punishment  of  those 
who  die  impenitent.  On  these  great  and  funda- 
mental doctrines  of  Scripture,  he  not  only  dwelt 
much,  but  almost  exclusively.  He  seldom  tra- 
velled out  of  this  plain  track  ;  not  because  he  was 
unable;  but  because  early  and  constant  habit  had 
rendered  it  most  familiar  to  him  ;  because  he  verily 
thought  it  the  most  profitable  course  of  public  in- 
struction ;  and  because  his  practice  of  memoriter 
speaking,  rendered  it  more  easy  for  him  to  prepare 
discourses  on  these  systematical  topics,  than  on 
those  of  a  different  kind.  To  which  may  be 
added,  that  his  unv/earied  devotedness  to  the  active 
duties  of  his  profession,  during  the  greater  part  of 
his  life,  left  him  but  little  time  for  study;  and,  of 
course,  l)ut  little  leisure  for  attempts  to  entertain 
his  hearers  with  originality,  with  profound  criti- 


HIS   GENERAL   CHARACTER.  223 

cism,  with  novelty,  or  with  elegance  of  composi- 
tion. 

And  as  the  Doctor  seldom  preached  on  other 
subjects  than  those  wliich  have  been  mentioned ; 
so  he  adopted  that  method  of  handling  them,  wliich 
is  most  common  in  the  writings  of  the  Puritan 
divines  of  the  seventeenth  century.  Owen.  Char- 
nock,  Flavel,  Howe,  Bates,  Baxter,  and  Henry, 
were  among  his  favourite  writers.  He  was  fond, 
not  only  of  their  modes  of  thinking,  but  also  of 
speaking;  and,  accordingly,  abounded  much  in 
what  may  be  called  the  technical  language  of  doc- 
trinal and  practical  religion  in  use  in  their  day.  It 
was  his  opinion,  that  evangelical  doctrines  ought 
not  only  to  be  preached,  and  preached  incessantly; 
but  that  they  ought  also  to  be  expressed  in  those 
terms  and  phrases  to  which  the  church  has  been 
long  used,  and  which  are  derived  either  from  the 
Scriptures  themselves,  or  from  the  earliest,  sound- 
est, and  best  known,  human  authorities.  This 
opinion  regulated  his  own  practice.  No  one  ever 
found  him  affecting  novelty,  in  the  representations 
which  he  gave  of  divine  truth,  either  with  respect 
to  their  substance  or  their  modes  of  expression, 
because  he  considered  the  old  as  better ;  and  in 
the  old  track  he  was  found  for  ever  walking. 

These  circumstances,  in  their  combined  influ- 
ence, gave  to  his  preaching  peculiar  weight  and 
popularity.  He  selected  precisely  that  plan  of 
sermonizing  which  was  best  adapted  to  his  own 
talents,  and  best  calculated,  at  once,  to  suit  the 
mass  of  hearers,  and  to  answer  the  great  end  of 
preaching.  A  greater  variety  in  the  choice  of 
subjects,  and  more  attention  to  polish  of  style, 
would  no  doubt  have  pleased,  perhaps  edified,  a 
small  number  of  those  who  attended  on  his  minis- 


224  ^^^   GENERAL   CHARACTER. 

tralions.  But  had  he  attempted  this,  he  would 
probably  have  lost  a  portion  of  that  simple,  afl'ec- 
tionate,  apostolical  manner,  which  so  remarkably 
characterized  his  pulpit  addresses,  and  which  so 
evidently  inspired  the  confidence,  and  impressed 
the  hearts  of  those  classes  of  hearers,  whose  sup- 
port always  affords  the  most  durable  basis  of  min- 
isterial reputation,  as  well  as  usefulness.  No 
man  ever  enjoyed  a  very  extensive  or  enviable 
degree  of  popularity,  as  a  gospel  minister,  whose 
sermons  were  exclusively  adapted  to  the  literary 
and  polished  part  of  his  hearers.  The  wonderful 
impression  of  Whitefield's  preaching  may  be  as- 
cribed to  the  plainness  and  evangelical  simplicity 
of  his  matter,  which  was  equally  suited  to  all 
classes,  taken  in  connexion  with  the  unrivalled 
force  and  magic  of  his  delivery. 

V.  This  venerable  servant  of  Jesus  Christ  was 
also  distinguished  and  honoured  for  his  great  dis- 
interestedness of  character.  Of  him  it  might  be 
said  with  eminent  propriety,  that  he  sought,  not 
his  own,  but  the  things  which  are  Jesus  Christ's. 
Few  men  have  ever  been  more  free  from  private 
and  selfish  aims,  in  acting  their  part  in  the  aflTairs 
of  the  church,  than  he.  His  plans,  his  calcula- 
tions, his  conduct,  were  ever  those  of  a  man 
whose  grand  object  was  the  advancement,  not  of 
himself,  or  of  a  parly,  but  of  the  Redeemer's  king- 
dom. Of  ecclesiastical  policy,  other  than  that 
which  sought  to  promote  the  peace,  the  order,  the 
purity,  the  extension,  and  the  happiness  of  the 
church,  by  the  most  fair,  direct,  and  honourable 
means,  he  evidently  knew  nothing.  In  petty 
schemes  for  diminishing  the  inlluence  of  his 
brethren,  that  he  might  increase  his  own;  or  in 
the  arts  of  intrigue,  to  play  ofT  contending  parties, 


HIS  GENERAL, CHARACTER.         225 

or  individuals,  as  engines  for  promoting  his  per- 
sonal elevation,  he  was  never  suspected  of  engag- 
ing. He  was  ever  ready,  where  an  imperious  sense 
of  duty  did  not  forbid  it,  to  sacrifice  his  own  feel- 
ings and  wishes  to  the  union  and  iiarmony  of  the 
church.  He  was  always  a  peace-maker;  never  a 
divider.  His  plans  were  invariably  those  of  Chris- 
tian benevolence.  "  No  banner  was  ever  raised 
in  his  camp,  but  that  of  the  cross."  From  envy 
and  jealousy  he  was  remarkably  free.  He  rejoiced 
in  the  honour  and  success  of  his  brethren.  And 
when,  toward  the  close  of  life,  some  of  the  young 
men,  whom  he  had  been  instrumental  in  intro- 
ducing into  the  ministry,  enjoyed  a  degree  of  po- 
pularity which  might  be  said,  in  a  degree,  to 
eclipse  his  own;  his  most  intimate  friends  never 
saw  him  manifest  on  this  account  the  smallest  un- 
easiness. On  the  contrary,  he  appeared  to  take 
unfeigned  pleasure  in  witnessing  the  acceptance  of 
their  labours,  and  in  contributing  to  raise,  rather 
than  depress  their  reputation.  He  seemed  ever 
ready,  with  the  spirit,  to  adopt  the  language  of 
that  faithful  servant  of  God,  who  said,  of  a  great- 
er than  himself — "He  must  increase,  but  I  must 
decrease." 

While  this  temper  carried  with  it  its  own  re- 
ward, in  the  personal  comfort  which  it  produced; 
it  could  not  fail  to  promote  the  honour,  and  extend 
the  iiiduence,  of  its  possessor.  No  man  ever  ex- 
hibited, in  a  remarkable  degree,  the  qualities  of 
disinterestedness  and  magnanimity,  without  being 
followed  by  the  public  eye  with  confidence  and 
affection.  Every  one  who  is  conscious  that  his 
own  views  are  pure,  hails  such  a  man  as  a  brother  : 
every  one  who  wishes  well  to  Zion,  rejoices  in  his 
peace,  his  prosperity,  and  his  elevation. 
19 


226  ^^^  GENERAL   CHARACTER. 

VI.  It  would  be  injustice,  both  to  the  cause  of 
religion,  and  to  the  memory  of  this  excellent  man, 
to  omit  calling  the  attention  of  the  reader  particu- 
larly to  the  spotless  purity  of  his  moral  character. 
It  might  seem,  at  first  view,  scarcely  necessary,  or 
even  proper,  to  mention  this  apart  from  the  fervour 
and  uniformity  of  his  piety,  before  noticed.  But 
when  we  recollect  that  some  who  have  professed 
a  warm  friendship  for  vital  piety,  and  who  claimed 
to  possess  it,  have  manifested  a  disposition,  in  theo- 
ry as  well  as  in  practice,  to  depreciate  morality ; 
and  when  we  call  to  mind  how  olien  ministers  and 
others,  in  the  main  hopefully  pious,  have  had  the 
lustre  of  their  reputation  obscured,  and  the  extent 
of  their  usefulness  abridged,  by  real  or  supposed 
deviations  from  moral  correctness  ;  it  would  be  im- 
proper to  pass,  without  distinct  and  very  honoura- 
ble notice,  the  peculiar  excellence  in  this  respect 
of  the  character  wliich  we  are  now  contemplating. 

The  writer  presumes  that  none,  who  were  ac- 
quainted with  Dr.  Rodgers,  will  charge  him  with 
extravagance,  when  he  expresses  an  opinion,  that  no 
man  ever  passed  through  a  life  of  eighty-four  years 
with  a  more  immaculate  moral  character  than  he. 
In  no  one  instance  was  it  ever  impeached.  It 
pleased  his  Divine  Master,  as  Dr.  Livingston  justly 
observes,  in  his  letter  before  quoted,  to  "  shield 
him  even  from  slander."  Considering  the  unu- 
sual activity,  as  well  as  length  of  iiis  life;  his  con- 
stant intercourse  with  all  classes  of  persons;  and 
the  diversified  and  trying  situations  in  which  he 
was  frequently  placed — lliat  the  lustre  of  his  repu- 
tation should  never  liave  been,  at  any  period,  sul- 
lied, even  by  the  breath  of  snsj)icion,  is  truly  an 
extraordinary  case,  and  worthy  of  being  contem- 
plated with  grateful  pleasure  by  every  friend  to  the 


HIS   GENERAL   CHARACTER.  227 

honour  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom.  The  influ- 
ence of  this  fact,  in  securing  to  him  an  uncommon 
share  of  public  confidence,  need  not  be  mentioned. 
In  truth,  it  could  not  fail  of  giving  to  his  character 
that  kind  of  colossal  firmness,  as  well  as  elevation, 
■which  all  those  who  were  accustomed  to  hear  his 
name  mentioned  in  company,  perceived  it  to  have 
acquired. 

VII.  Dr.  Rodgers  was  further  distinguished  by 
a  punctual  attendance  on  the  judicatories  of  the 
church.  Perhaps  no  minister  in  the  United  Slates 
was  ever  more  remarkable  than  he  for  a  regular  and 
strict  regard  to  tbis  part  of  bis  duty.  lie  made  it 
a  point  never  to  be  absent  from  the  meetings  of  his 
brethren,  unless  sickness,  or  some  other  equally 
imperious  dispensation  of  Providence,  rendered  his 
attendance  impossible.  And  when  present,  in  the 
several  ecclesiastical  courts,  he  gave  his  serious 
and  undivided  attention  to  the  business  which  came 
before  them  ;  and  was  always  ready  to  take  his  full 
share,  and  more  than  his  share,  of  the  labour  con- 
nected with  that  business.  In  short,  the  same  zeal 
for  the  welfare  of  the  church ;  the  same  desire  to 
spend  and  be  spent  in  his  Master's  service,  which 
animated  him  in  every  other  department  of  labour, 
guided  and  governed  him  here.  The  consequence 
was,  that  he  became  personally  known  to  almost 
all  his  brethren  in  the  ministry,  of  his  own  denomi- 
nation, in  the  United  Stales  ;  that  he  enjoyed  their 
friendship  and  confidence;  that  he  kept  up  a  con- 
nected and  thorough  acquaintance  with  the  alTairs 
of  the  church  ;  that  he  contributed  to  strenglhen  the 
hands  of  those  with  whom  he  acted  ;  and  that,  thus, 
the  sphere,  both  of  his  honour  and  his  usefulness, 
was  greatly  extended.  The  aggregate  value  of 
advantage,  which  all  these  circumstances  gave  him, 
in  the  course  of  a  ministry  of  between  sixty  and 


228  ^IS  GENERAL  CHARACTER. 

seventy  years,  may  be  more  easily  imagined  than 
ascertained. 

He  was  accustomed  often  to  lament  the  negli- 
gence of  this  duty  which  he  observed  in  many  of 
his  brethren ;  and  to  remark,  that  he  was  persua- 
ded they  did  not  appreciate  as  they  ought  the  im- 
portance, both  to  themselves  and  the  church,  of  a 
regular  attendance  on  judicatories.  He  more  than 
once  declared,  that  he  never  knew  any  minister 
attain  to  a  large  share  of  influence  or  weight  among 
his  brethren,  who  was  habitually  negligent  of  such 
attendance.  Nay,  he  thought  it,  from  the  very 
nature  of  the  case,  impossible  that  any  one  ever 
should.  And  there  are,  probably,  few  points  con- 
cerning which  all  the  experience  of  ecclesiastical 
men  more  decisively  concurs,  than  in  supporting 
this  opinion.* 

VIII.  The  great  libcraUty  of  sentiment  which 
Dr.  Rodgers  habitually  discovered,  endeared  him 
to  thousands,  and  contributed  not  a  little  to  the  exten- 
sion of  his  influence.  Though  he  was  a  firm  Pres- 
byterian, and  a  decided  Calvinist,  he  was  far,  very 
farfrom  being  a  bigot.     While  he  abhorred  latitudi- 

*  The  writer  cannot  forbear  introducing  a  similar  de- 
claration made  by  a  divine  now  living,  wliose  opportunities 
to  make  observations  on  this  subject,  liave  been  of  the  best 
kind,  and  whose  character,  witli  all  who  know  him,  will 
add  weight  to  his  opinions.  "  No  minister  in  our  connex- 
ion has  been  known  by  me,  who  was  either  very  useful  or 
very  respectable,  that  did  not  give  his  ])resence  at  Presby- 
tery, Synod,  or  Assembly,  whenever  that  duty  became 
incumbent.  Tlie  reason  of  this  seems  to  be,  that  a  neglect 
in  this  particular  cannot  take  place  without  indicating  in 
him  who  is  chargeable  with  it,  a  criminal  want  of  zeal  lor 
the  general  interests  of  the  church  ;  and  at  the  same  time, 
it  necessarily  deprives  him  of  all  genera!  influence,  confi- 
dence, esteem,  and  aflection  among  his  "  brethren." — Dr. 
Green's  Charge,  at  the  Ordination  of  Mr.  J.  B.  Linn,  and 
others,  1799. 


HIS  GENERAL  CHARACTER.         229 

narian  indifference,  and  was  ever  ready  to  contend 
earnestly  for  the  fiith  once  delivered  to  the  saints  ; 
he  was  quite  as  ready,  at  the  same  time,  to  take 
by  the  hand,  as  Christian  brethren,  all  who  ap- 
peared to  possess  the  Spirit  of  Christ,  by  what- 
ever name  they  were  called,  or  however  they 
might  differ  from  him  with  respect  to  minor  arti- 
cles of  belief  He  seldom  mentioned  the  opinions 
of  others  in  the  pulpit;  but  contented  himself  with 
declarinir,  ilUistralins;,  and  endeavouring  to  recom- 
mend, what  he  believed  to  be  the  doctrines  of 
Scripture.  And,  on  one  occasion,  when  he  was 
urged  by  some  of  the  officers  of  his  church  to 
preach  against  the  errors  of  a  particular  sect,  and 
to  warn  his  people  against  them,  by  name,  he  ut- 
terly refused,  saying, — "  Brethren,  you  must  ex- 
cuse me.  I  cannot  reconcile  it  with  my  sense 
either  of  policy  or  duty  to  oppose  these  people 
from  the  pul[)it.  otherwise  than  by  preaching  the 
truth  plainly  and  faithfully.  I  believe  them  to  be  in. 
error;  but  let  us  out-preach  them,  out-pray  them, 
and  out-live  them,  and  we  need  not  fear." 

It  might  have  been  supposed,  that  toward  one 
denomination,  from  which,  as  will  be  seen  from 
tho  foregoing  pages,  he  had  received,  at  different 
times,  treatment  of  which  he  liad  reason  to  com- 
plain, he  would  have  been  apt  to  cherish  senti- 
ments of  fixed  animosity.  But  it  was  not  so. 
He  often  spoke  of  his  Episcopal  brethren  in  terms 
of  the  most  exemplary  Ciiristian  benevolence;  and 
appeared  cordially  to  rejoice,  wiien  he  heard  that 
the  work  of  the  Lord  prospered  among  them,  in 
any  part  of  the  world.  He  had  many  affectionate 
friends  of  the  Episcopal  church.  He  was  in  the 
constant  habit  of  visiting  a  number  of  families  be- 
longing to  that  church.  And  when  he  met  with 
an  Episcopalian  who  appeared  to  love  the  truth  as 


230         HIS  GENERAL  CHARACTER. 

it  is  in  Jesus,  he  seemed  to  forget  all  distinction  of 
names,  and  to  feel  as  if  he  had  found  a  brother, 
with  whom  he  took  as  sweet  counsel  as  if  he  had 
belonged  to  his  own  communion. 

In  this,  as  well  as  in  other  graces,  he  evidently 
grew,  as  he  advanced  in  life.  And  toward  the 
close  of  it,  he  seerned  to  take  unfeigned  and  ardent 
pleasure  in  the  belief,  that  every  person,  with 
whom  he  fell  in  company,  who  spoke  seriously, 
and  with  apparent  emotion  on  the  subject  of  reli- 
gion, was  a  real  Christian.  It  was  pleasing,  even 
when  there  was  reason  to  fear  that  he  carried  his 
favourable  estimate  too  far,  to  see  with  what  eager 
delight  he  recognised  every  thing  which  resembled 
piety,  in  the  numerous  individuals  with  whom  he 
conversed;  and  how  ready  he  was  to  embrace  in 
the  arms  of  Christian  affection,  all  persons,  of  all 
sects,  who  manifested  any  thing  like  sincere  love 
to  the  Lord  Jesus. 

IX.  In  tracing  the  remarkable  features  in  the 
character  of  this  man  of  God,  it  would  be  impro- 
per to  pass  without  notice,  his  temper  and  habits 
with  respect  to  worhlhj  property.  It  was  sup- 
posed by  some,  that  an  undue  love  of  money,  as 
Avell  as  an  irascible  temper,  was  among  his  natural 
infirmities.  If  this  were  so,  it  is  certain  that,  by 
the  grace  of  God,  he  had  gained  the  victory  over 
both,  in  a  remarkable  degree.  Few  men,  in  his 
circumstances,  have  contrived  to  give  away  so 
much  in  charity,  especially  to  the  sick  poor,  whom 
he  constantly  visited.  He  seldom  went  into  the 
house  of  such  a  person,  without  closing  the  religi- 
ous exercises  which  attended  the  interview,  by 
a  donation  from  his  purse.  Though  he  passed 
through  a  period,  during  his  residence  in  New 
York,  in  wiiich  speculation  in  stock,  lands,  &c. 
was  carried  on  with  a  spirit,  and  to  an  extent,  alto- 


HIS   GENERAL   CHARACTER.  23  1 

gellier  unprecedented  in  this  country,  and  scarcely 
equalled  in  any  other:  yet  he  was  enabled  wholly 
lo  resist  the  iascinalion  of  the  day,  and  to  keep 
himself  free  from  an  entanglement  so  uuworlhy  of 
a  gospel  minister.  It  is  observable  also,  iha;, 
when  in  company,  he  scarcely  ever  allowed  him- 
self lo  converse  on  a  subject  so  common  in  a  com- 
mercial community.  In  the  society  of  his  most 
coniidential  friends,  he  appeared  always  to  feel  as 
if  he  had  something  infinitely  more  important  to 
talk  of,  than  the  price  of  stocks,  or  the  most  eligi- 
l)le  methods  of  investing  money.  And,  in  corres- 
pondence with  these  facts,  it  is  certain,  that,  with 
all  the  regularity  and  vigilance  of  his  economy, 
and  without  meeting  with  any  particular  loss  suffi- 
ciently large  lo  account  for  such  a  result,  he  left, 
at  his  decease,  less  property  than,  forty-six  years 
before,  he  had  brought  to  the  city. 

The  writer  feels  the  more  ready  to  mention  this 
trait  in  the  character  of  Dr.  Rodgers,  because  it 
has  attracted  the  notice  of  others,  as  well  as  of 
himself.  A  distinguished  layman,  at  a  distance, 
who  intimately  knew,  and  highly  honoured  him, 
in  a  private  letter,  addressed  to  the  writer,  re- 
marks, "  I  hope  you  will  not  forget  to  dilate  free- 
ly upon  his  voluntary  and  meritorious  comparative 
poverty,  at  a  time  when  even  clergymen  have  been 
infected  with  the  dollar-mania  of  our  country." 

It  is  notorious  that  the  sin  of  avarice,  where  it 
has  been  allowed  to  take  atirm  and  governing  hold 
of  the  mind,  is  one  of  those  which  are  peculiarly 
apt  to  grow  stronger  with  age,  and  to  reign  with  a 
melancholy  force  in  the  decline  of  life.  It  was 
directly  the  reverse  with  the  subject  of  this  me- 
moir. Toward  tlie  close  of  life  he  was  raised 
above  a  secular  spirit  more  than  ever.  And  dur- 
ing the  two  or  three  last  years  that  he  lived,  it  is  a 


232  ^^^  GENERAL  CHARACTER. 

fact,  that  he  seemed  to  have  lost  all  sense  of  the 
value  of  money,  excepting  as  a  means  of  relieving 
the  distress  and  promoting  the  happiness  of  those 
around  him.     During  that  period  he  distributed  the 
contents  of  liis  purse,  with  a  profusion  altogether 
extravagant;  insomuch  that,  if  the  members  of  his 
family  had  not  prevented  him,  he  would  have  given 
away  every  farthing  that  came  into  his  possession. 
X.  Another  feature  deserving  of  notice,  in  the 
character  of  this  excellent  minister,  is  that  he  vjas 
no  politician.     It  is  true,  that  during  the  revolu- 
tionary war,  he  did  not  attempt  to  stand  on  neutral 
ground;  but  took  part  openly  and  decisively  in  fa- 
vour of  his  country.     And  there  can  be  no  doubt 
that,  in  a  similar  exigency,  at  any  period,  he  would 
have  thought  himself  perfectly  justifiable  in  acting 
a  similar  part.     Yet  it  is  certain,  that  for  a  number 
of  years  prior  to  that  contest,  and  from   the  estab- 
lishment of  the  independence  of  his  country,  till 
the  day  of  his  death,  he  never  allowed  himself  to 
appear  as  a  party-politician,  or  to  connect  his  name, 
or  his  influence,  with  either  side,  in  the  successive 
struggles  which  divided  his  friends  and  acquaint- 
ance.    From  the  time   of  his  settlement  in  New 
York,  he  never  voted  at  a  political  election;  he 
never  appeared  at  a  poll ;  nor  did  he  ever  attempt, 
on  any  occasion,  to   interfere,  for  the  accomplish- 
ment of  any  political  object.     He  had  his  opinions, 
indeed  he   could  not  but  have  them,  of  the  men 
and  tbe  measures  which  at  diflerent  times,  solicited 
the  public  patronage.     But  he  seldom  made  these 
opinions  the  subject  of  conversation,  even  in  pri- 
vate companies,  especially  in  mixed  companies; 
he  never  carried  them  into  the  pulpit;  and,  above 
all,  he  never  attempted  by  his  exertions  to  help 
forw  ird  any  political  scheme  or  party.     Attempts 
were  more  than  once  made,  by  friends  whom  he 


HIS  GENERAL  CHARACTER.         233 

greatly  respected  and  loved,  to  seduce  him  from 
this  course.  But  he  steadfastly  resisted  their  soli- 
citations, and  kept  himself  aloof  from  tlieir  colli- 
sions and  animosities  to  the  last.  It  was  in  vain 
they  urged,  that  clergymen  have  the  same  civil 
rights,  and  the  same  deep  interest  in  the  prosper- 
ity of  their  country,  with  other  men.  He  ad- 
mitted their  premises,  but  denied  their  conclusion  ; 
and  answered,  though  not  in  the  words,  yet  in  the 
spirit  of  Nehemiah  of  old,  I  am  doing  a  great 
work,  so  that  I  cannot  come  down.  Why  should 
the  work  cease,  whilst  I  leave  it,  and  come  down 
to  you?* 

It  will  not  be  supposed,  indeed,  that  as  a  minis- 
ter of  the  gospel,  he  considered  himself  as  preclu- 
ded from  explaining  and  inculcating  those  great 
principles  of  social  order  and  duty,  which  are  found 
in  Scripture,  and  on  which  every  teacher  in  the 
house  of  God  is  bound  to  insist,  in  their  proper 
place  and  proportion,  in  his  public  ministrations. 
This  duty  he  performed,  and  it  is  believed  as  faith- 
fully as  most  ministers.  But  he  carefully  avoided 
intermeddling,  either  in  speech  or  in  action,  with 
the  party  conflicts  around  him  ;  nor  could  any  one 
ever  learn  either  from  his  prayers  or  his  preaching, 
what  were  his  feelings  relative  to  those  questions 
Avhich  filled  the  gazettes,  and  agitated  the  town- 
meetings  of  the  day.  And  by  avoiding  the  latter, 
it  is  certain  that  he  was  enabled  with  the  more 
freedom,  and  without  suspicion  or  ofl'ence,  to  ac- 
complish the  former. 

By  rigidly  and  steadily  pursuing  this  course,  he 
avoided  much  personal  inconvenience  and  pain. 
He  conciliated  friendship,  and  maintained  his  influ- 
ence with  all  parties.     He  prevented  his  time  and 

*  Nehemiah,  vi.  3. 

20 


234  "'®   GENERAL   CHARACTEE. 

attention  from  being  absorbed  by  trivial  objects,  to 
the  neglect  of  infinitely  greater  concerns.  He 
avoided  those  collisions  and  alienations  of  social 
feeling,  for  which  the  zealous  politician  must  al- 
ways be  prepared.  He  declined  putting  either  his 
personal  or  official  character  in  the  power  of  every 
political  ruffian,  or  news-papsr  scribbler.  And, 
above  all,  he  avoided  what  might  have  proved,  and 
could  scarcely  have  failed  of  proving,  an  obstacle 
both  to  the  acceptance  and  usefulness  of  his  min- 
istry. 

He  had  a  firm  persuasion,  that  it  was  not  only 
desirable,  but  highly  important,  to  all  clergymen, 
to  take  this  course  of  retirement  and  self-denial, 
with  respect  to  party  politics.  He  thought  that, 
by  adopting  a  different  plan  of  conduct,  their  ser- 
vices to  their  country,  whatever  they  might  ima- 
gine to  the  contrary,  were  really  little  or  nothing; 
while  their  injuries  to  the  church  were  deep  and 
lasting.  He  considered  it  as  degrading  the  dignity 
of  their  office,  as  well  as  striking  a  deadly  blow  at 
their  professional  influence,  to  permit  themselves 
to  be  even  in  opinion,  identified  with  those  noisy 
declaimers,  and  unprincipled  intriguers,  who,  with 
the  language  of  patriotism  in  their  mouths,  know 
no  other  guide  than  selfishness,  no  other  God  than 
ambition.  And  it  was  a  matter  of  unfeigned  regret 
with  him,  when  lie  perceived  that  any  of  his  bre- 
thren viewed  the  subject  in  a  different  light.  But 
even  with  regard  to  those  who  totally  differed  from 
him,  both  in  opinion  and  practice,  on  this  subject, 
it  never  interfered  with  the  most  cordial  affection 
and  intercourse.  Nay,  it  may  with  confidence  be 
asserted,  that,  from  the  time  of  his  leaving  St. 
George's,  until  his  death,  he  never,  on  account  of 
party  politics,  either  lost  or  soured  a  friend. 

XI.  But  though  Dr.  Rodgcrs  was  no  politician, 
he  did  not  consider  himself  by  any  means  as  ex- 


HIS   GENERAL   CHARACTER.  235 

empted  from  tlie  duties  which  belong  to  a  good 
citizen.  On  the  contrary,  he  was  always  prompt 
in  obeying  tlie  calls  of  humanity  and  benevolence. 
Besides  attending  to  his  duty  in  several  religious 
societies,  of  all  which  he  was  president;  he  found 
time  to  be  one  of  the  most  active  and  useful  mem- 
bers of  the  "  Society  for  the  relief  of  distressed 
prisoners,"  and  of  the  "  Board  of  trustees  of  the 
City  Dispensary,"  in  both  of  which,  for  a  number 
of  years,  he  presided.  He  was  also  a  member  of 
the  "  Manumission  Society"  of  New  York,  and 
manifested  a  deep  interest  in  the  abolition  of  slave- 
ry, and  in  the  success  of  plans  for  meliorating 
the  condition  of  slaves.  Nor  did  he,  as  is  too 
often  done,  content  himself  with  being  a  mere 
nominal  member  of  these  associations.  He  gave 
his  time  and  labour,  as  well  as  pecuniary  contribu- 
tions for  their  support;  and  was  always  ready  to 
go  foremost  in  exertions  to  lessen  the  miseries,  and 
promote  the  welfare  of  the  children  of  affliction. 
As  long  as  he  retained  his  vigour  of  body  and 
mind,  few  persons  in  tlie  community  took  a  more 
active  part  than  he,  in  promoting  and  executing 
plans  of  enlightened  and  diffusive  benevolence. 

XH.  Both  the  reputation  and  usefulness  of  Dr. 
Rodgers  were  doubtless  promoted,  and  probably  in 
no  small  degree,  hy  the  peculiar  and  uniform  dig- 
nity of  his  manners.  This  part  of  his  character 
was  not  only  remarkable,  but  pre-eminent.  If  his 
manners  had  sometimes  a  degree  of  formality  in 
them  which  excited  the  smile  of  the  frivolous, 
they  always  manifested  the  polish  of  a  well-bred 
gentleman,  as  well  as  the  benevolence  of  a  Chris- 
tian ;  and  never  failed  to  command  respect.  He 
was  grave  without  being  starched,  and  dignified 
without  reserve.  He  was  habitually  cheerful,  and 
often  facetious  and  sportive ;  but  his  sportiveness 


236  H'®   GENERAL   CHARACTER. 

was  always  as  remarkable  for  its  taste  and  dignity 
as  it  was  for  the  perfect  inoflfensiveness  of  its  cha- 
racter. He  was  probably  never  known,  in  a  single 
case,  to  let  himself  down  in  company,  by  undue 
familiaritj',  by  levity,  by  coarse  or  unseasonable 
anecdotes,  or  by  any  rude  invasion  of  the  feelings 
of  others.  There  was  a  uniformity,  an  urbanity, 
and  a  vigilance  in  his  dignity,  which  plainly 
showed  that  it  was  not  the  result  of  temporary 
effort,  but  the  spontaneous  product  of  a  polished, 
benevolent,  and  elevated  mind. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  this  happy  style  of 
deportment,  was  of  great  service  to  him  in  every 
part  of  his  life.  By  his  dignified  manners,  he 
made  a  favourable  impression  on  perfect  strangers, 
and  always  inspired  respect,  wherever  he  went. 
By  his  manners  he  was  enabled  to  keep  at  a  dis- 
tance the  impertinent  and  the  troublesome,  with- 
out offending  them;  and  thus  to  avoid  much  ex- 
pense of  time  and  comfort.  By  his  manners  he 
conciliated  the  confidence  and  veneration  of  all 
classes  with  whom  he  was  called  to  have  inter- 
course; for  they  were  adapted  to  make  an  impres- 
sion in  his  fiivour  equally  on  the  rich  and  the  poor, 
the  polished  and  the  rude,  the  learned  and  the 
ignorant.  And,  more  especially,  by  his  manners, 
he,  as  it  were,  cast  around  him  an  influence,  which 
repressed  frivolity,  impiety,  and  profaneness,  and 
made  his  presence  a  pledge  of  decency  and  order. 
"  There  is  something  defective,"  says  the  eloquent 
Dr.  Jay,  "  especially  in  a  minister,  unless  his  cha- 
racter produces  an  atmosphere  around  him,  which 
is  felt  as  soon  as  entered.  It  is  not  enough  for 
him  to  have  courage  lo  reprove  certain  things;  he 
should  have  dignity  enough  to  prevent  them  ;  and 
he  will,  if  the  Christian  be  commensurate  wiih  the 
preacher,  and  if  he  walk  worthy  of  God,  who  hath 


HIS  GENERAL  CHARACTER.         237 

called  us  into  his  kingdom  and  glory."*  This 
moral  atmosphere  surrounded  Dr.  Rodgers.  And 
it  was  produced,  not  by  inoroseness  or  austerity; 
but  by  a  peculiar,  apostolical  dignity,  which  every 
one  instantly  perceived,  and  which  nothing  but  the 
most  hardened  and  brutal  protligacy  was  able  to 
withstand. 

XIII.  Finally;  let  it  not  be  thought  beneath  the 
dignity  of  biography  to  state,  that  Dr.  Rodgers  was 
always  aflentive  to  kin  dress.  Like  his  manners 
and  his  morals,  it  was  invariably  neat,  elegant,  and 
spotless.  He  appeared  to  have  an  innate  abhor- 
rence of  every  thing  like  slovenliness  or  disorder 
about  his  person.  And  while  there  was  nothing 
that  indicated  an  excessive  or  finical  attention  to 
the  materials  or  the  adjustment  of  his  clothing,  it 
was  ever  such  as  manifested  the  taste  of  a  gentle- 
man. In  this  respect  he  resembled  his  friend  and 
spiritual  father,  Mr.  Whitefield,  whose  sayings 
and  example  on  the  s-ibject  he  not  unfrequently 
quoted. 

The  dress  of  our  persons,  like  that  of  our 
thoughts,  is  undoubtedly  important.  No  man  ever 
neglected  either,  without  impairing  both  his  res- 
pectability and  his  usefulness.  A  clerical  fop  is, 
indeed,  contemptible  ;  but  a  clerical  sloven,  de- 
serves no  sliglit  reprehension.  It  has  been  said, 
and  probably  with  truth,  that  the  person  who  has 
a  remarkably  pure  and  well  ordered  mind,  will 
seldom  fail  to  be  neat  and  tasteful  in  his  dress.  It 
is  certain  that  such  a  dress  has  a  tendency  to  in- 
spire respect,  even  among  the  most  enlightened 
and  reflecting  classes  of  society;  that  it  gives  addi- 
tional dignity  to  the  presence,  and  additional  force 
to  the  instructions,  of  him  who  wears  it;  and  that 
almost  all  persons   instinctively   connect  with   a 

»  Life  of  Winter,  p.  299. 


238  ^^^   GENERAX   CHARACTER. 

something  of  a  corresponding  character  in  his  intel- 
lectual and  moral  endowments.  If  this  be,  in  any 
degree,  the  case,  it  seems  to  follow,  of  course,  that 
a  well  regulated  and  moderate,  but  habitual  atten- 
tion to  this  object,  is  incumbent  on  every  Chris- 
tian, but  especially  on  every  Christian  who  fills  a 
public  station. 

As  an  author  Dr.  Rodgers  never  held  an  eminent 
place.  His  forte  was  in  action,  not  in  writing, 
which  he  undertook  with  reluctance,  and  as  sel- 
dom as  possible.  His  publications  were  few.  The 
following,  it  is  believed,  is  a  complete  list. 

I.  Holiness  the  nature  and  design  of  the  gospel 
of  Christ:  a  sermon  preached  at  Stockbridge, 
June  24,  1779,  before  the  lodge  of  free  and  accept- 
ed masons,  of  Berkshire  county,  state  of  Massa- 
chusetts; and  published  at  their  request. 

n.  The  Divine  goodness  displayed  in  the  Ame- 
rican Revolution:  a  sermon  preached  in  New  York, 
December  11th,  1783;  appointed  by  congress,  as 
a  day  of  public  thanksgiving  throughout  the  United 
States. 

HI.  Three  Sermons  in  the  American  Preacher. 

IV.  The  faithful  servant  rewarded :  a  sermon, 
delivered  at  Princeton,  before  the  trustees  of  the 
College  of  New  Jersey,  May  6lh,  1795,  occasion- 
ed by  the  death  of  the  Rev.  Jolm  Witherspoon, 
president  of  said  college, 

V.  A  Charge  delivered  to  the  Rev.  Joseph  Bul- 
len,  at  his  designation  to  the  office  of  missionary 
to  the  Chickasaw  Indians. 

VI.  The  presence  of  Christ  the  glory  of  a 
church:  a  sermon  delivered  November  6th,  1808, 
at  the  opening  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in  Ce- 
dar street.  New  York. 

These  publications  arc  all  respectable  in  their 
kind.  They  furnish  internal  evidence  that  their 
author  was  a  pious,  enlightened,  and  judicious 


HIS   GENERAL   CHARACTER.  239 

divine.  But  they  all  discover,  what  has  been  more 
than  once  hinted  in  the  foregoing  pages,  that  he 
had  been  too  busy  in  the  great  and  practical  de- 
partments of  his  professional  duty,  to  indulge  him- 
self in  tlie  luxuries  of  polite  literature,  or  to  attain 
the  elegancies  of  fine  writing;  and  that  he  had  the 
pious  magnanimity  to  prefer  the  former  to  the 
latter. 

Such  was  Dr.  John  Rodgers  !  He  was  not 
without  his  infirmities;  but  they  were  spots  in  a 
luminary  of  full-orbed  excellence;  and  no  one  was 
more  ready  than  himself  to  acknowledge,  that  he 
was  a  miserable  sinner,  and  that  his  proper  place 
was  at  the  footstool  of  Divine  mercy.  "  Take  him 
for  all  in  all,"  the  American  church  has  not  often 
seen  his  like;  and  will  not,  it  is  probable,  speedily 
or  often  "  look  upon  his  like  again."  In  vigorous 
and  original  powers  of  mind,  a  number  have  ex- 
ceeded him.  In  profound  and  various  learning,  he 
had  many  superiors.  In  those  brilliant  qualities, 
which  excite  the  admiration  of  men,  and  which 
are  much  better  fitted  to  adorn  than  to  enrich, 
pre-eminence  is  not  claimed  for  him.  But  in  that 
happy  assemblage  of  practical  qualities,  both  of 
the  head  and  the  heart,  which  go  to  form  the  res- 
pectable man ;  the  correct  and  polished  gentleman ; 
the  firm  friend  ;  the  benevolent  citizen ;  the  spot- 
less and  exemplary  Christian ;  the  pious,  digni- 
fied, and  venerable  ambassador  of  Christ;  the 
faithful  pastor ;  the  active,  zealous,  persevering, 
unwearied  labourer  in  the  vineyard  of  his  Lord  ; 
it  is  no  disparagement  to  eminent  worth  to  say, 
that  he  was  scarcely  equalled,  and  certainly  never 
exceeded,  by  any  of  his  contemporaries.  He  did 
far  more  good  than  many  men  of  much  greater 
talents  and  learning;  and  certainly  had  fewer  faults 
than  commonly  fiiU  to  the  share  of  greater  genius. 

The  history  of  this  excellent  man  is  an  instruc- 


240  ^^^   GENERAL   CHARACTER. 

live  one.  Among  a  number  of  important  lessons, 
it  teaches  us, 

That  personal  character  has  an  immediate  and 
essential  influence  on  official  standing: 

That  ardent  piety,  exemplary  deportment,  habi- 
tual prudence,  and  unwearied  diligence,  are  those 
qualities  in  a  gospel  minister,  on  which,  under 
God,  the  greatest  reliance  is  to  be  placed: 

That  the  impression  made  by  the  exhibition  of 
constant,  uniform,  and  consistent  Christian  excel- 
lence, never  fails  to  be  deep,  benign,  and  lasting : 

That  the  more  exclusively  a  minister  of  the  gos- 
pel is  devoted  to  his  peculiar  work,  the  greater 
Avill,  ordinarily,  be  his  comfort  and  his  usefulness : 

That  the  attainment  of  the  best  and  noblest  kind 
of  eminence,  in  the  sacred,  as  well  as  every  other 
profession,  is,  humanly  speaking,  within  the  reach 
of  many  more  than  is  commonly  imagined  : 

That  the  most  solid  and  lasting  popularity  is 
founded  less  on  splendid  pulpit  eloquence,  than  on 
faitliful  and  persevering  pastoral  labours  : 

That  "  them  that  honour  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
he  will  honour :"  Of  course, 

That  that  minister  is  in  the  fairest  way  to  true 
honour,  and  the  most  desirable  success,  who  lives 
most  by  faith  on  the  Divine  Redeemer,  and  who 
forgets  his  own  glory,  in  the  niulliiude  of  his  de- 
sires and  endeavours  to  advance  the  glory  of  him 
that  sent  him  :  And, 

That  he  who  sits  as  "  King  upon  the  holy  hill 
of  Zion,"  does  continue  to  fultil  the  promise  long 
since  made  to  his  ministers,  "  Lo,  1  am  with  you 
always,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world." 

"To  him  be  glory  in  the  Church,  throughout 
all  ages,  world  without  end  !  Amen  !" 


END  OF  THE  MEMOIR. 


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